Ecuador, host of the 68th edition of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas

On the morning of this Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the 68th Edition of the Regional Commission for the Americas of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was inaugurated in Quito. The main tourism leaders meet at the event and it will take place on June 27 and 28.

This event is expected to promote dialogues and exchanges of experiences related to innovative tourist products and destinations. In addition, it is intended to position Ecuador as a country committed to sustainable and conscious tourism management.

The President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, participated in the inauguration ceremony, who welcomed those present and expressed: “Ecuador was designated as the venue for this meeting in recognition of our policies in favor of the tourism sector.”

The Head of State highlighted that our country is unique in the world because in its four regions it has different landscapes such as the virgin jungle of the Amazon, dozens of snow-capped peaks in the Andes, hundreds of dream beaches and the Galapagos Islands. Therefore, hosting the most important event on the continent within the framework of tourism is key to its development.

In addition, he stressed that tourism being the third source of non-mining/oil income, the Government has promoted its development with some concrete actions. For example: the Value Added Tax (VAT) was reduced from 12% to 8% during holidays, with the aim of stimulating the consumption of local and international tourists. And VAT on hotel accommodation for foreigners was eliminated. The payment of the Currency Exit Tax (ISD) for airlines was abolished and the Ecodelta and Tourist Power rates were reduced, in order to reduce costs for travelers.

The President also pointed out that Ecuador signed some open skies agreements with the United States, Chile, the Dominican Republic and Panama; New air routes to New York, Miami, San José, Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Buenos Aires and Santo Domingo were incorporated.

And internally, to strengthen the sector, credit plans were created, with interest facilities and terms, to support small tourism businesses: “Here we have a 5% interest loan for the tourism sector. In addition to our emblematic 1×30 at 1% interest and a 30-year term. With this, we have already reached 250 million dollars in almost 90,000 beneficiaries of these loans”, said Lasso.

In addition, in tourism promotion, the Government invested USD 47 million; and to reactivate the sector more quickly, debts were restructured to provide financial relief to businesses affected by the pandemic. With this, the President assured, the number of foreign visits that was had before the COVID-19 pandemic was reached and 94% of international connectivity was recovered, and 87% in domestic connectivity.

The Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili, pointed out that Quito, being the venue for this international event, is key since it is a city that demonstrates the power of tourism in the region. He also recognized the work of Ecuador in terms of sustainability and protection of the Galapagos Islands; as well as being the first country to approve, after the pandemic, the International Code of the Tourist Protection Law.