The International Summit on Sustainability and Environmental Innovation took place from September 9-11, 2025, in Bogota, Colombia. The Summit was composed of over 160 spaces offering experiences such as presentations, panels, TED talks, exhibitions, as well as entertainment, education, and experiences with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Experts, professionals and representatives from a multitude of industry sectors gathered to share results from their innovative actions and to discuss how to strengthen the movement of sustainable environmental development further.
GSTC trainer, Natalia Naranjo, was invited by Swisscontact and Colombia + Competitiva to deliver a workshop presentation at the summit on ‘Implementation of Sustainability Standards in Tourism’ as a sustainable tourism advisor.
During the workshop, Natalia talked about the GSTC Standards, focusing on the GSTC Industry Standard and the GSTC Destination Standard. She explained the four pillars in detail with practical examples and insights: Sustainable management, Socioeconomic impacts, Cultural impacts, and Environmental impacts. Participants learned about the importance of applying the GSTC Standards to the tourism industry and the ways in which they support and further strengthen sustainable environmental development.
“It is imperative to move from words to action; therefore, the importance of implementing sustainable tourism criteria is increasingly recognized. In this regard, the GSTC Standards serve as a key reference, enabling organizations like Swisscontact in Colombia to continue contributing to the path toward sustainability in the tourism sector. Swisscontact and Colombia+Competitiva have understood this well, and we hope this marks the beginning of ongoing work — understanding how to put sustainability into practice in tourism”, shared Mrs. Naranjo.
In addition, the Summit in Bogota also held the ‘Corporación Autónoma Regional de Cundinamarca (CAR) Environmental Awards’ along with ‘Colombia Lider’. The awards, held every 2 years, aimed to acknowledge and reward the best public and/or private initiatives that contribute to the adoption and implementation of new technologies, innovations, and initiatives centered around the preservation, conservation, and management of natural resources and the environment.
