Latest news with #IndigenousTourismChallenge
Trade Arabia
03-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
UN Tourism, CAF launch indigenous tourism challenge for Latin America
UN Tourism and CAF – Development Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean, have launched the Indigenous Tourism Challenge – Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative seeks to identify and support innovative tourism projects that highlight the richness of cultural expressions and the relationship with the environment of Indigenous peoples in the region. Indigenous tourism allows communities to feature and revitalize their cultures through authentic tourist experiences. It makes it possible for travellers to get to know native peoples, by experiencing first-hand their traditions, customs and ancestral knowledge. Through this type of tourism, Indigenous communities foster their autonomy and sustainable development, preserve their cultural identity and strengthen their role in the management of their heritage and tourism as an economic activity. The challenge is designed to make indigenous tourism a key driver for economic development, while deeply respecting community autonomy, ancestral traditions and the natural environment on which Indigenous peoples' lives depend. What does the challenge seek? The initiative focuses on projects that promote: Economic empowerment: Proposals that promote the economic autonomy of Indigenous communities, increasing their capacities to directly manage the benefits of tourism. Cultural preservation: Initiatives that safeguard traditions, languages, rituals, and other cultural expressions through tourism experiences that directly take communities into account. Gastronomy promotion: Activities that promote the culinary traditions of the region, with the participation of local producers and markets. Community innovation: Disruptive initiatives that add value to the tourism sector without altering the traditional way of life of communities and that take them into account. Prizes and benefits for participants Finalists will receive specialized mentoring, access to global networks in the tourism sector, and unique opportunities for international visibility. The winning project will receive investment backing of USD 10,000, as well as support to implement its initiative. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, highlighted: "The indigenous tourism that UN Tourism has been promoting for a decade is not only a way to promote the artistic and culinary expressions or knowledge of Indigenous peoples; it is also a tool to protect the traditions and ancestral wisdom that characterize the region. We encourage young people to come forward and lead the way for sustainable development in communities. Because the future of tourism is theirs, it is in our hands to ensure that the most human of economic sectors shines and flourishes". Oscar Rueda García, CAF's Director of Tourism, said: "This is an invitation to undertake experiential tourism projects that make it possible to learn from the culture and knowledge of our 'elder brothers'. This living culture is a treasure of Latin America and the Caribbean given that we have more than 800 Indigenous peoples and their population is 10% of the region. The application period is open until 15 June and the presentation of the winner will be made on 9 August, the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples"
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UN Tourism and CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) launch the Indigenous Tourism Challenge for Latin America and the Caribbean
MADRID, March 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UN Tourism and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean have launched the Indigenous Tourism Challenge – Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative seeks to identify and support innovative tourism projects that highlight the richness of cultural expressions and the relationship with the environment of the indigenous peoples in the region. Indigenous tourism enables communities to place value on and revitalize their culture through authentic tourism experiences. It makes it possible for travelers to get to know native peoples and experience their traditions, customs, and ancestral knowledge. This method encourages autonomy and sustainable development of indigenous communities, preserves their cultural identity, and strengthens their role in managing their heritage and tourism as an economic activity. The challenge is designed to turn indigenous tourism into a key driver of economic development, while deeply respecting community autonomy, ancestral traditions, and the natural environment on which indigenous peoples rely for their livelihood. The initiative supports projects that promote economic empowerment, strengthening financial autonomy of indigenous communities through tourism; cultural preservation, protecting traditions, languages and rituals with the direct participation of the communities; promoting gastronomy and local cuisine together with regional producers and markets; and community innovation, with proposals that add value to tourism without altering the traditional way of life. Finalists will receive specialized mentoring, access to global tourism networks, and unique opportunities for international visibility. The winning project will receive investment backing of USD 10,000, in addition to support to implement their initiative. Natalia Bayona, UN Tourism's Executive Director, emphasized: "Indigenous tourism, which UN Tourism has been promoting for a decade now, is not just a way to promote artistic and culinary expressions, and the knowledge of native peoples; it is also a tool to protect the tradition and ancestral knowledge that characterize the region. We encourage young people to apply and lead the way to sustainable development in communities. Because the future of tourism is theirs, it is in our hands that the most human economic sector of all shines and develops." Oscar Rueda García, CAF's Tourism Director expressed: "This is an invitation to undertake experiential tourism projects that make it possible to learn about the culture and knowledge of our "big brothers." This living culture is the wealth of Latin America and the Caribbean when we have more than eight hundred indigenous peoples and their population is 10% of the region. Applications are open until June 15 and the winner will be announced on August 9, International Day of Indigenous Peoples." The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect. View source version on Contacts
