Sustainable Tourism in Latin America: Aligning with the 2030 Agenda
In today’s context of global transformation, where environmental, economic, and social challenges demand urgent responses, tourism stands out as a key sector to drive sustainable and balanced development. Latin America, with its immense natural wealth, cultural diversity, and tourism potential, faces a decisive crossroads: how to consolidate an inclusive, resilient tourism model aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.
A recent report presented by the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) in Madrid addresses this challenge. Titled “Tourism and SDGs: Integrating the 2030 Agenda into Tourism Policy in Ibero-America”, the study focuses on tourism policies in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, four countries with advanced strategies and diverse social realities. The report was prepared by a team led by researcher Diana Gómez Bruna, who emphasized during the presentation: “Sustainability is the key element that underpins all tourism policy plans in the region.”
A paradigm shift: sustainability as the core of public policies
The report highlights an encouraging fact: Latin American governments are clearly prioritizing sustainability in their tourism strategies, not as a complement but as a structuring axis. This represents a paradigm shift compared to previous decades, when tourism development was primarily measured by visitor growth or foreign investment.
Today, national plans focus on aspects such as environmental impact, equitable distribution of tourism benefits, inclusion of local communities, improvement of sector employment, and promotion of responsible consumption practices. In Gómez Bruna’s words, it is “tourism that not only generates income but positively transforms territories and protects ecosystems.”
Prioritized SDGs: decent work, equity, responsible consumption, and climate: Through an in-depth analysis of strategic plans, government programs, and tourism projects in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, the SEGIB report identifies the most present SDGs in tourism planning and management. This integration reflects both institutional commitment to the 2030 Agenda and political will to make tourism an effective tool for inclusive and sustainable development.
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth: Recognized as the most prominent goal across all analyzed tourism policies. Tourism is one of the sectors with the greatest capacity to generate employment in Latin America, in both urban and rural areas. Strategies prioritize creating decent, safe, and sustainable jobs, with special attention to technical and professional training for youth and women, and strengthening local employment in tourism communities.
SDG 10: Reduced inequalities: Social inclusion is a transversal axis in regional tourism policies. Measures ensure equitable access to tourism opportunities, particularly for marginalized groups, such as women, youth, indigenous communities, and rural populations. Community tourism projects, female leadership promotion, and accessibility policies contribute to closing social and territorial gaps.
SDG 12: Responsible production and consumption: Countries have begun implementing measures to encourage responsible practices in both tourism supply and visitor behavior. This includes efficient resource management, reducing single-use plastics, promoting ecotourism, and adopting environmental certification systems. Sustainable tourism is no longer optional but a strategic necessity.
SDG 13: Climate action: Particularly relevant in contexts like Chile and several Central American countries, where climate change impacts are increasingly evident. Tourism policies incorporate resilience and climate adaptation criteria, mitigation strategies such as decarbonizing tourist transport, sustainable infrastructure development, and integrating climate risk into territorial planning. Awareness campaigns for tourists and operators emphasize reducing the sector’s environmental footprint.
However, integration of these goals is uneven. Each country adapts its approach to its social and environmental reality:
- In Chile, the focus is on the climate crisis and conservation of natural landscapes.
- In Colombia and Mexico, the priority is fighting poverty and inequality, especially in areas affected by conflict or social exclusion.
- In the Dominican Republic, post-COVID tourism recovery is the priority, balancing economic dynamism with environmental sustainability.
Current obstacles: fragmented integration of the 2030 Agenda
Despite progress, the report emphasizes a critical issue: the integration of the 2030 Agenda into tourism policies remains partial and fragmented. According to Diana Gómez Bruna, “full, coherent, and indivisible incorporation of the SDGs into tourism planning has not yet been achieved.”
This is partly due to weak institutional capacity, limited technical and financial resources, and lack of specific indicators to measure SDG implementation in the sector. Disconnection among national, regional, and local government levels also hinders effective application of sustainable strategies.
The report calls for strengthening tourism governance, improving technical training for public officials, and establishing transparent, participatory monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It also encourages intersectoral collaboration, involving private, academic, and civil society actors in tourism policy design and implementation.
A strategic opportunity to transform tourism in Ibero-America
Sustainable tourism is not a utopia: it is a powerful tool to generate employment, reduce inequalities, empower communities, and protect natural and cultural heritage. For this potential to materialize, real and deep integration of the 2030 Agenda principles at all levels of tourism planning is essential.
SEGIB sends a clear message to Ibero-American governments: tourism can and must be a driver of social and environmental transformation, but this requires political will, public and private investment, and sustained commitment to sustainability.
Latin America is at a decisive moment. Foundations are laid, strategies are aligning, and communities show growing interest in fairer, inclusive, and responsible tourism. Now is the time to take the next step: build a truly sustainable tourism model that is not only profitable but also ethical, resilient, and deeply human.
