The 29th edition of the Anato National Congress of Travel and Tourism Agencies will be held next week in Medellín.

Next week, from August 21st to 22nd, the 29th edition of the Anato National Congress of Travel and Tourism Agencies will be held in Medellín. Through the exchange of ideas and the creation of strategies that help boost destinations, this event has established itself as one of the most important academic venues for the industry.

Anato is the country's most important tourism fair. Photo: Mauricio Moreno

Anato estimates that more than 1,000 business leaders will attend this year, as well as the Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (MinCIT), Diana Marcela Morales , and Lidio García, President of the Senate of the Republic.

The Congress will also feature national and international speakers and representatives from the tourism sector. There will also be panels with various presidential candidates and members of Congress to discuss the future of the industry in Colombia.

According to figures from the union, the number of participants has grown by more than 100 percent over the last 10 years, confirming its strategic role.

Paula Cortés Calle, executive president of Anato, affirms that there is growing interest and commitment from the various stakeholders in the sector. The organization has also demonstrated that these spaces have been key to recognizing the country's potential to strengthen tourism in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Tourism boosts the regional economy. Photo: Private archive

Historically, 60 percent of event attendees are travel and tourism agencies , tour operators, and hotels.

For this edition, an academic program was designed that will include topics related to digital marketing, artificial intelligence, sales strategies, customer service, innovation, motivation, and leadership.

Last year, during the opening of the event held in Cartagena, Cortés Calle stated: “We want tourism to be the engine of the country's development for the coming years. The sector has proven to be a spearhead for Colombia's economic recovery . In 2023, the Bank of the Republic revealed that tourism revenue reached $9 billion, a 23 percent increase compared to 2022.”