Under this theme, the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) spearheaded the organization of the 1st GWTO Global Summit on Responsible EnoTourism in Punta del Este, Uruguay. This groundbreaking event, supported by institutional partners including the Ministry of Tourism (Uruguay Natural), INAVI, the Intendancies of Maldonado, Montevideo, Colonia de Sacramento, and Canelones, as well as private entities such as Bodegas Garzón, Enjoy Hotel, and Grupo Elis OPC, underscores GWTO’s commitment to advancing the socio-economic development of wine destinations and elevating the global standing of EnoTourism brands.
Arnaldo Nardone, GWTO MICE Director, and Pablo Singerman, GWTO Vice President LatAm, emphasized the significance of GWTO’s decision to host the most comprehensive international MICE event on EnoTourism to date, comprising B2B meetings, an academic congress, and an exhibition area.
The Minister of Tourism of Uruguay, the GWTO President of Honor and the GWTO Founder President CEO highlighted the unique opportunity presented by this event for positioning Uruguay on the global EnoTourism map.
Eduardo Sanguinetti emphasized “the importance of the Summit for advancing global EnoTourism and positioning Uruguay as a distinguished EnoTourism destination. We are delighted to host this event of immense international importance. Our thanks to the Global Wine Tourism Organization GWTO for entrusting us with its 1st Summit. EnoTourism is an engine for the socio-economic development of wine regions, a platform to promote local culture and a bridge that strengthens ties between producers, entrepreneurs and wine enthusiasts from all over the world”, said the Minister of Tourism.
Rafael Ansón indicated that “gastronomy has become one of the most important motivations for tourists when choosing a destination, a key factor in promoting quality tourism. And, within this framework, EnoTourism is one of its great attractions: Visiting the wineries, seeing and walking among the vineyards, tasting the wines in harmony with the local gastronomy, is an enriching experience from a recreational, but also cultural and historical point of view”, said the Honorary President of OMET and of the International Academy of Gastronomy.
For his part, José Antonio Vidal emphasized the imperative of Responsible EnoTourism in ensuring sustainable growth and preserving wine destinations for future generations being able to continue enjoying and benefiting from these wine destinations, aspects that will be key to the choice of the 1st GWTO Awards for Responsible Destinations and Experiences. This involves making conscious choices before, during and after the trip, and requires a collective effort from travelers, local communities, governments and the tourism industry, supporting both responsible wineries and responsible tour operators”. GWTO President pointed out “the essential importance of being coo-petitive (competing through collaboration) and of winery entrepreneurs’ awareness that EnoTourism is neither oenology nor viticulture, but Tourism, a tertiary sector, a service sector and that, as such, it should be considered as an independent business unit managed by professionals in the tourism sector”.
Vidal concluded his words of welcome by offering an emotional tribute in memoriam to Professor Eduardo Fayos-Solà and the academic María Isabel Mijares García-Pelayo, both admired and much loved by the attendees and the sector in general.
Remo Monzeglio, Deputy Secretary of Tourism of Uruguay, honored Piero Sattanino, the Best Sommelier in the World 1971, for his outstanding professional career and commitment to education through the Italian Association of Sommeliers.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Essential aspects for implementing Responsible Strategic Plans, Branding, Associationism, Monitoring, MICE, Communication, Design and Commercialization of activities, the essential Tour Operators and Training were presented in practical formats (successful cases and ted-talks) by 80 authorities from 16 countries.
Directors of eight GWTO member EnoTourism Associations stressed their importance as interlocutors between the private and public sectors; Nardone made the winery sector aware of “the possibility of increasing profits by organizing events at their facilities”; Singerman affirmed “the difficulty of making the right decisions without the management tool that observatories represent”; Leonid Gelibterman (GWTO Vice President EurAsia) pointed out that “EnoTourism and gastronomy play a key role in cultural rootedness and public diplomacy. We call for responsibility for a future of environmental, political and socio-cultural well-being”; Milton Zuanazzi (GWTO Director Brazil) referred to EnoTourism as “a strategic and marketing vision parallel to the wine industry: while the industry is concerned with the content of the glass, we should be dedicated to what is outside the glass”; Marisa Ramos (GWTO Director Mexico) indicated that “the successful integration of EnoTourism into Mexico’s tourism offer at the international level will depend on an intelligent strategy”, and Gabriel Fidel (GWTO Academy LatAm Director) concluded “the Punta del Este Summit has highlighted the role of GWTO, with its current and future partners, as articulators of strategies and tools necessary for a new EnoTourism”.
NEXT SUMMIT VENUE
GWTO Summits will set to rotate venues, align with GWTO’s MICE area planning, offering a range of event formats for wine destinations. Yantai Municipality (China) was announced as the next Summit host, with several international destinations vying for subsequent editions.