As part of the visit of Jorge Moller, Program Director for Latin America & Caribbean of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Sustainability Week took place in Quintana Roo, Cancun.
The agenda brought together university students, public authorities, academia, and the business sector around a shared goal: to reflect on and build alternatives for truly sustainable development in Quintana Roo, guided by the GSTC Standards (known previously as GSTC Criteria), the global standards for sustainable tourism.
Activities began on Tuesday, November 19, 2025 with a roundtable discussion at Universidad del Caribe, where more than 100 university students from the Gastronomy, Sustainable Tourism, Hotel Management, Alternative Tourism, and Heritage Management programs took part in an open dialogue on new ways of reimagining tourism with Mr. Moller. During the session, participants reflected on the importance of prioritizing Quintana Roo’s natural, cultural, and social assets at their core, in line with the approach promoted by the GSTC Standards, advocating for tourism models that foster well-being, identity, and a sustainable future for local communities.
On Thursday, November 20, Jorge Moller, GSTC’s Latin American & the Caribbean Program Director, held a private meeting with the Municipal President of Benito Juárez, where perspectives were exchanged on the current challenges of the municipality’s urban and sustainable development. Mr. Moller also used the meeting as an opportunity to delve deeper into the importance of the GSTC Destination Standard.
Subsequently, a meeting was held with university professors, strengthening the connection between academia and civil society and recognizing the key role of education in shaping new generations committed to a sustainable future.
The agenda concluded on Friday, November 21, in Playa del Carmen with an open dialogue with business leaders interested in promoting a more just, responsible, and sustainable development model for Quintana Roo. This space enabled the exchange of perspectives, experiences, and potential partnerships aimed at building a future in which economic growth goes hand in hand with territorial stewardship and active citizen participation.
“Sustainable tourism is built through dialogue, collaboration, and shared responsibility. When communities, institutions, and the private sector come together, tourism becomes a powerful tool to protect local identity, and create a more resilient future for destinations like Quintana Roo,” said Mr. Moller.
Events like the Sustainability Week, driven by civil society, reaffirms the importance of creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration among different sectors, and demonstrates that the future of destinations are built through dialogue, shared responsibility, and active citizen participation.
