Local Observatories Key to Delivering on National Tourism Strategies, New Report Concludes
UN Tourism and IDB report shows how local data observatories can bridge the gap between national tourism policies and destination-level implementation across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Photo by UN Tourism
UN Tourism has joined with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to further advance the role of data and governance in tourism development across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Against a backdrop of increased engagement by international organizations in supporting sustainable tourism programs in the region, the new “Shaping Sustainable Tourism – the Role of Tourism Observatories in Latin America and the Caribbean,” report is designed to help connect national strategies with local actions.
The report emphasizes the importance of regular, timely, reliable and locally generated data. Tourism observatories - such as UN Tourism’s International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) - enable destinations to monitor key indicators, including supply and demand trends, resource use and tourism capacities, and translate this information into actionable insights for planning, investment, and policy decisions.
The publication also underscores the importance of participatory governance, showing how observatories create platforms for public and private stakeholders to align priorities, strengthen coordination, and support more transparent and accountable tourism. The analysis provides an overview of how tourism observatories operate and presents a series of case studies and best practices from across the region.
The report was presented during the 1st World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America Ministers’ Summit in Sao Paulo. It reflects the longstanding collaboration between the UN Tourism and the IDB and their shared commitment to advancing sustainable tourism through effective and evidence-based management.
About UN Tourism
The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), a United Nations specialised agency, is the leading international organisation with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 166 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 500 Affiliate Members from the private sector.
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