2023 Global INSTO Meeting
21- 22 November 2023 | Madrid, Spain
The 2023 Global Meeting of the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) is scheduled to take place on 21 and 22 November 2023 at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, Spain.
Participants in this year's event have the option to attend in person or engage remotely.
Given limited capacity, in-person attendance will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to: i) INSTO members, ii) those in the process of becoming members, iii) destinations with a clear interest in establishing an Observatory, as well as iv) UNWTO Member States and v) UNWTO Affiliate Members.
In line with previous meetings, this meeting will provide a platform for established Observatories, interested destinations, and various stakeholders in the tourism industry to share experiences and best practices and to jointly advance monitoring efforts at the destination level.
The content of the event will be structured around these key themes:
- Importance of Governance: Exploring the critical role of effective governance in steering sustainable tourism development towards success and long-lasting impact and the role of observatories in this context.
- Importance of participatory approaches: Showcasing the significance of involving local communities and stakeholders in shaping sustainable tourism practices and policies through the work of the Observatories.
- The net positive approach: Focusing on practical experiences in assessing the environmental impacts of tourism activities through cases studies and tools for measuring and mitigating the ecological footprint of tourism and will looking into measurement aspects in the areas of waste, wastewater and water management and climate action.
Following the meeting in Madrid, an optional visit to Malaga for technical sessions and visits is possible on 23-24 November 2023, at the kind invitation of the Observatory of Malaga.
Travel, including international flights and local transport to and within Spain, and accommodation for the Madrid and Malaga meetings must be organized and paid for by the participants.
Registration is closed
Draft Programme:
Opening of the 2023 Global INSTO Meeting
- Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UNWTO
- Dr. Dirk Glaesser, Director, Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
Introduction of new INSTO Members 2023
The Sustainable Tourism Observatory of Yucatán, Mexico (virtual)
Mr. Raul Noriega Paz, Technical Secretary, SEFOTUR
The Sustainable Tourism Observatory of Tlaxcala, Mexico (virtual)
Ms. Josefina Rodriguez, Secretary of Tourism
The Monitoring Centre of Batanes Islands, Philippines (virtual)
Prof. Dr. Mary Anne Ramos-Tumanan, Batanes Tourism and Monitoring Centre, Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, University of the Philippines Diliman
The Tourism Observatory of Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Mr. Yokoyama Makoto, Director and Ms. Moto Takagi, Section Manager, Sustainable Tourism Promotion Office, Gifu Prefectural Government
Cali Tourism Observatory - SITUR Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Ms. Maria Andrea Dorado Castillo, Director of the Cali Tourism Observatory - SITUR Valle de Cauca
The Sustainable Tourism Observatory of Centro de Portugal
Dr. Raúl Almeida, President, Turismo Centro de Portugal
Prof. Francisco Dias, Professor at Polytechnical Institute of Leiria, Coordinator of the Sustainable Tourism Observatory of Centro de Portugal, Vice-President of Centro de Portugal Film Commission
The Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Ireland
Prof. Dr. Breda McTaggart, Head of Faculty of Business and Social Sciences and Prof. Dr. James Hanrahan, Department of Marketing Tourism and Sport, School of Business and Social Science, Atlantic Technological University
Q&A and discussion
Acceptance ceremony of new INSTO members Gifu Prefecture, Japan, Centro de Portugal, Cali, Colombia and Atlantic Coast, Ireland and group photo in UNWTO HQ lobby
Coffee break 9th floor
The Measuring Sustainable Tourism (MST) initiative
- Ms. Clara van der Pol, Director a.i., Statistics Department, UNWTO
Progress in the transformation of tourism at the destination level - Insights from the INSTO perspective
- Dr. Dirk Glaesser, Director, and Ms. Cordula Wohlmuther, Coordinator, Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
Session I: INSTO key issue area of governance:
This session will delve into the pivotal role of governance in driving successful tourism development. It will highlight the significance of Observatories operating at the destination level and their related measurement efforts in fostering effective governance practices.
The role of Sustainable Tourism Observatories in a national tourism strategy
Dr. Sérgio Guerreiro, Senior Director, Knowledge Management & Innovation, Turismo de Portugal
Embedding Tourism Development: Links with regional plans and strategies
Mr. Valentin Wallnöfer, Researcher, Center for Advanced Studies, EURAC Research, Sustainable Tourism Observatory of South Tyrol, Italy
The role of the Guanajuato Observatory in Guanajuato´s long-term planning process
Ms. Miriam Adame, General Director of Tourism Intelligence, Technical Secretary of the Observatory of Guanajuato, Mexico
From Insight to Action: The role of the Observatory in enhancing sustainable tourism development in the State of São Paulo
Ms. Luciana Derze, Consultant, Centre of Intelligence of Tourism Economics, Tourism Observatory of the State of São Paulo
Observatories as a key element of a regional development strategy - the example of the Sustainable Tourism Observatory of Málaga, Spain
Mr. Jonathan Gómez Punzón, Director General of Tourism, Málaga City Council, Spain
Q&A and discussion
Light lunch at UNWTO HQ
Session II: Governance – The role of participatory approaches
This session will underline the role of participatory approaches in driving the effectiveness and impact of Observatories. Recognized as a cornerstone for success and a must for INSTO members, these inclusive methods foster collaboration, engagement, and meaningful contributions from all stakeholders.
Continuously integrating the view of residents: The example of the Thompson Okanagan Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Canada
Mr. Mike Overend, Director of Destination Development, and Ms. Eve Layman, Destination Development & Stewardship Specialist, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
How participatory approaches worked in the set-up of the Monitoring Centre in the Batanes Islands, Philippines (virtual)
Prof. Dr. Mary Anne Ramos, Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, University of the Philippines Diliman
Evidence-based, resident-driven and participatory generation of research initiatives: Visitor dispersal in the Australia's South West
Ms. Carolina Inés Garcia, Researcher, Australia’s South West Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Curtin University, Australia
Evidence-based solution management: the example of tourism acceptance in the City of Vienna
Ms. Petra Tschöll, Statistics and Market Research, Vienna Tourist Board, Austria
Q&A and discussion
A moderated discussion on the governance of the INSTO observatories in China
Moderated by Ms. Cordula Wohlmuther, Coordinator, Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
Prof. Dr. Bao Jigang, Director, Center for Tourism Development and Planning Research, Sun Yat-sen University
Winner of the 16th Ulysses Prize by UNWTO for excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge in tourism
Prof. Zhang Xiaoming, Professor, Deputy Dean, School of Tourism Management of Sun Yat-sen University, Technical Expert of Changshu Observatory
Ms. Jiang Jiawei, Assistant Director, Monitoring Centre for Sustainable Tourism Observatories in China, Sun Yat-sen University
Rethinking INSTO Indicators set and way forward in the context of the forthcoming ST-MST Framework to be approved by the UN Statistical Commission
Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UNWTO
Q&A and discussion
Closing of Day One
Social programme
Session III: The role of a net positive approach for tourism
This session focuses on experiences in assessing the environmental impacts of tourism activities through cases studies and tools for measuring and mitigating the ecological footprint of tourism and will look into measurement aspects in some of the INSTO environmental areas.
Introductory presentation
Dr. Dirk Glaesser, Director and Ms. Sofía Gutiérrez, Deputy Director, Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
A strategic commitment from the accommodation sector- The role of observatories for a net positive approach (virtual)
Mr. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
Net positive – The approach of ISTO
Ms. Isabel Novoa, President, International Social Tourism Organization (ISTO)
Climate change monitoring practices and adaptation and mitigation measures within the INSTO network (virtual)
Dr. Izidora Marković Vukadin, Institute of Tourism, Croatia
Creating a destination “Risk Register” informed by indicators through a participatory process- experiences of the Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Ireland
Prof. Dr. James Hanrahan, Lecturer in Tourism Management, Department of Marketing Tourism and Sport, School of Business and Social Science, Atlantic Technical University, Sligo, Ireland
The current status of sustainable tourism destination management in Japan from a private business perspective point
Mr. Shinobu Ozawa, Global Marketing Team, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co
Advances through UNWTO’s action frameworks of the One Planet Network
Dr. Dirk Glaesser, Director and Ms. Virginia Fernandez-Trapa, Coordinator, Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
Q&A and discussion
Latest trends and data
Mr. Michel Julian, Senior Programme Officer, Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department, UNWTO
National data support for Observatories: the Brazilian experience
Mr. Fabio Montanheiro, Coordinator, Information and Data Intelligence, Embratur
Coffee Break
Session IV: Continuation of the net positive approach
This session will continue discussing the measurement of environmental impacts and include a discussion on the social impact of tourism. It will explore best practices in methodologies, indicators and monitoring efforts for measuring community engagement and empowerment through tourism.
Tourism and Livelihoods: Assessing the socio-economic impact of tourism
Prof. Dr. Maria do Rosário Borges and Prof. Dr. Jaime Serra and, Members of Management and Scientific Team, University of Évora, The Alentejo Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Portugal
Limits of acceptable change: Experiences of Barcelona
Ms. Alba Lajusticia, Coordinator, Observatory of Barcelona Tourism: City and Region, Spain
Analysis of rental homes at the regional, island, municipality, and local destination scale: Experiences of the Canary Islands
Prof. Dr. Raúl Hernández, La Laguna University, Sustainable Tourism Observatory of the Canary Islands, Spain and Prof. Dr. Carmelo Leon, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Sustainable Tourism Observatory of the Canary islands, Spain
Separate measurement of tourism sustainability and destination carrying capacity
Prof. Dr. Ioannis Spilanis, Laboratory of Local and Island Development, Aegean Sustainability Tourism Observatory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Greece
Experiences in creating evidence for a sustainable tourism development in Navarra, Spain
Mr. Unai Garbisu de Goñi, Chief of the Transformation of Tourism Section and Observatory of Navarra, Spain
Q&A and discussion
Wrap-up and conclusions
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