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The longest route in the world: Global Wine Tourism Organization

The world’s longest wine tourist route

Wine tourism in its purest form

Argentina’s Inprotur, Chile’s Sernatur and the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) promote, support and publicize the creation of The World’s Longest Wine Tourist Route (1,300 km of wine culture), favouring the twinning between the Chilean and Argentinian Regions of Coquimbo, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca and Santiago del Estero.

Argentina and Chile, as wine tourism destinations, feature over 250 and 130 wineries that receive visitors, respectively.

The Tourist Route re-enacts the journey made by conquistadors and missionaries, who, after founding La Serena -the first coastal city in Chile- projected the bi-oceanic union and crossed the Andes to establish the oldest settlement in Argentina, Santiago del Estero. Subsequently, they would use the same road to introduce the first grapevine stumps, hence consolidating the base for the wine culture in both countries and in all of the Southern Cone between 1553 and 1556 (Source: Orígenes).

During the project’s presentation within the cycles The Journeys of the Vine and the Wine, the President of the GWTO, José Antonio Vidal, pointed out that “this initiative qualifies as what GWTO defines as a Tourist Route (since it includes more than one country), it boosts public and private collaboration and regards coopetitivity, academic investigation, innovation and sustainability as its essential core. From GWTO, we encourage every country to assist this type of initiatives.

The president of the GWTO carried on stating that “in these current particularly difficult times, it is necessary to redefine concepts in regards to Tourism and Wine Tourism, aimed at satisfying the new demands marked by the sanitation safety:

  1. Public-private, public-public and private-private cooperation is more essential than ever, and
  2. Companies that have not done it yet, must redefine themselves towards an inclusive and sustainable approach.
  3. We all have to work on our reliability in orderto maintain ourselves within the buying decision scope of consumers.

There is a wide opportunity window linked to the pluses that a comprehensive and transversal sector such as Wine Tourism offers. It implies innovative strategies, and this Tourist Route includes them.

In the face of the current complex situation, if the aim is ensuring Wine Tourism in the markets by developing the socio-economical environment at destinations, ADDING to the effort is necessary, nurturing the commitment to unity.

Entrepreneurs must work on their individual and creative projects, but while being aware of the fact that they also have to work together within their sector in order to strengthen the unique qualities of their destinations.

Coopetitivity (competing with a cooperative spirit) will teach us how to adapt ourselves to the new situation: let us become the BIG FAMILY OF THE GLOBAL WINE TOURISM, all agents working united and co-ordinately as in the GWTO.

No wine tourist experience -and, practically, any other- can be understood without its complementary gastronomy as an instrument for the social and local development

Wine Tourism sector has to incorporate it into its offer, not only as part of the integrated service, but during the wine tasting at the wineries, harmonizing them with simple gastronomic Km 0 proposals. 

At GWTO we consider that the time is ideal to take actions towards broadening up the horizons of a responsible, supportive and sustainable global Wine Tourism.

The leadership in sustainability takes in an inclusive and supportive Governance Model that gives prominence to ‘Knowledge Management’ applied to the Investigation for the Training in Sustainability via GWTO Academy, which acts as the headquarters and the voice of the Wine Tourism know-how. It features 50 authorities from the most prestigious universities and Business Schools in 24 countries, specialized in the investigation of Tourist Intelligence, in Wine Tourism Management, Gastronomic Tourism and leading the education in Agricultural and Wine tourism.

Because of and for this purpose, the GWTO has been created: probably the most inclusive and supportive touristic project that has ever been proposed”.

Global Wine Tourism Organization invited to the 1st Wine Tourism National Conference of Argentina

GWTO invited to the 1st Wine Tourism National Conference of Argentina

The president of GWTO, José Antonio Vidal, joined the celebration of the Argentine Wine Day as a national drink, congratulating the Ministry of Tourism of the Nation and that of San Juan, for the organization of the 1st National Wine Tourism Conference, to whose authorities he extended his greetings -the Minister of Tourism Matías Lammens, Yanina Martínez, Ricardo Sosa and Pablo Sismanian, with whom he met at Fitur 2020 (Madrid)-, as well as to his colleagues in the GWTO team, who also had outstanding interventions during the days:

  • Pablo Singerman, Vice President of GWTO for the Americas and as Director of GWTO’s World Economic Monitor for Wine Tourism,
  • Javier Espina and Rodrigo Lemos, GWTO Ambassadors for Argentina
  • Romanella Paggi, National Director, and
  • Oscar Bustos, developer of the GWTO Guarantee Certificate for Wine Tourism Experiences project.

A ‘National Wine Tourism Conference’, Vidal pointed out, “which from GWTO we consider necessary to design the master lines of the strategy for our sector in the new post-Covid era, and appropriate due to the circumstances, that the 1st winery GWTO Member in the world has been ‘Finca María del Pilar‘, in Santiago del Estero, and the 1st Winery Corporation GWTO Full Member in the world has also been the Argentine ‘COVIAR‘”.

Participating institutional authorities:

Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Nation:

  • Yanina Martínez, Secretary of Tourism Promotion
  • Sergio Castro, National Director of Planning and Development
  • Hernán Roitman, National Director of Tourism Quality
  • Ricardo Sosa, Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Tourism Promotion
  • Pablo Sismanian, Director of Tourism Products of the National Institute for Tourism Promotion

Provincial Ministries of Tourism:

  • Claudia Grynszpan, Minister of Tourism and Culture of San Juan
    • Martina Canales, Director of Tourism Products of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of San Juan
  • Mario Peña, Minister of Tourism and Sports of Salta
  • Germán Bakker, Undersecretary of Tourism of the Ministry of Tourism of Neuquén
  • Sandra Nazar, Provincial Director of Tourism of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Jujuy

Participating institutional authorities:

Federal Tourism Council:

  • Claudia Grynszpan, President
  • Javier Espina, Director

Argentine Wine Corporation (COVIAR):

  • Pablo Asens, Vice President

About GWTO

A Global wine, agri and gastro Tourism Business and Knowledge Network, comprising the whole agritourism value chain located in wine destinations -related to ‘wine’ in its broader sense-, the public sector and the academic by GWTO Academy. GWTO has been created to enhance the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations and its residents through strategic value propositions, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework, based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information:
[email protected]
www.gwto.org
Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet  @gwto_academy @gwto_latam 
And on Instagram: @gwto_latam

Global Wine Tourism Organization invited to the International Wine Culture and Tourism Festival in China

GWTO invited to the International Wine Culture and Tourism Festival in China

On 26 September, the launch ceremony of the China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Festival, with the theme of “Meet Ningxia Chuan – Taste Helan Mountain”, was held in He Dong Wine Town, Shizuishan City, Ningxia. The conference aims to provide the biggest stage, the best booth and the best platform for the exchange and cooperation of the wine culture and tourism sector at home and abroad. 

Representatives of the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) in China, relevant ministries and commissions, provincial and regional cultural and tourism departments, experts from the wine, culture and tourism industries at home and abroad, and representatives of private companies witnessed the awards ceremony of Ningxia as a “global wine tourism destination”.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during his visit to Ningxia that the Ningxia wine industry is a microcosm of the development of China’s wine industry and it will be a world beater. Ningxia has a long history of grape growing and is renowned for its wine. The eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains are recognised as a prime wine grape production zone, with sufficient light, little precipitation, large temperature differences and low humidity, and the excellent terroir and climate have created the unique qualities of Ningxia wine, including sweetness and balance, rich aroma and a long aftertaste. 

In his speech, Lai Jiao said that the Party Committee and the government of the autonomous region have implemented the new development concept and included both wine and cultural tourism in the nine key industries of the autonomous region, as an important grasp of the initiative to integrate into the new development pattern, focusing on promoting the integrated high-quality development of wine and cultural tourism and accelerating the construction of wine tourism destinations. Relying on cultural and tourism resources, we will cultivate a new connotation of wine culture, tell the story of wine, disseminate the terroir culture of the region, “shape” and “give soul” to wine, so that wine will not only have a single look but many aspects that go beyond the wine. 

GWTO Founder President and CEO, José Antonio Vidal stated, “Innovation is the bridge to the future of Wine Tourism and the challenge is to achieve joint action from all the wine tourism stakeholders who share the goal of world leadership in this important sector as wine tourism is. For the Province of Ningxia, the objective should be promoting the international recognition of Ningxia Brand as a world-class wine tourism destination, by positioning Ningxia wine-agri-tourism destinations in global markets, through their presence in all the events (domestic and international) organized by GWTO or in which GWTO participates. In this sense I extend a formal invitation to Ningxia to participate in the GWTOtalks to discuss “hot topics” on wine tourism, matching governments and private sector. Recently, the Minister of Tourism and Sports of Argentina, the Director General of Tourism Policy of Greece, the President of Tourism of Portugal and the Vice-minister of Tourism of Uruguay participated in different sessions and we had great outcomes”.

GWTO Senior Advisor Carlos Vogeler said in his online speech that the Global Wine Tourism Organization highly recommended Ningxia as a quality wine tourism destination and that Ningxia’s initiatives to promote the integration of the cultural and tourism industries have contributed to the wine industry becoming an important pillar in attracting tourists, contributing to the development of wine tourism and making China one of the most attractive upcoming destinations for wine travel experiences in the international market.

During the China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Festival, a series of cultural and tourism events were held, including the Wine Tourism Destination Industry Integration Development Forum, the Winery Leisure Tourism Promotion Conference, the promotion of wine culture and tourism resources in the eastern Helan Mountains.

ABOUT GWTO

Global network of entrepreneurship and knowledge, made up of entities from the entire agritourism value chain (public, private located in wine destinations and academic sectors), understanding the term ‘wine’ in its broadest sense, with the aim of contributing to social development -economic of the destinations and their residents, in accordance with value proposals demanded by their associates and aligned with the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, both from the United Nations.

More information: [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet  @gwto_academy

GWTO invited by Russian authorities

The president CEO of the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) José Antonio Vidal, got Russia despite all the difficulties of traveling during the pandemic. The main purpose of his visit was to hold meetings with representatives of the russian public, private and academic sectors.

Mr. Vidal’s trip started in the city of Perm (Ural region), where he participated in the Russian Culinary and Services Olympiad «Legend». Chefs from all over Russia, including regions with great potential for the development of wine tourism, took part in the Culinary Olympiad.

The opening ceremony was attended by Governor of Perm Krai,Dmitry Makhonin, the president of the National Culinary Association of Russia, Victor Belyaev, and Leonid Gelibterman, GWTO Director for Central EurAsia region and president of the russian International Center of Wine and Gastronomy. In the opening ceremony, José Antonio Vidal said: “On behalf of the GWTO I congratulate all participants and organizers of the Olympiad and wish success to the National Culinary Association of Russia. I bring you also greetings and best wishes from Rafael Ansón, Honorary President of the GWTO and President of Honor of the International Academy of Gastronomy”.

Together with Yulia Vetoshkina, Minister of Tourism and Youth Policy of the Perm Krai, and Yulia Rybakova, Adviser to the Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism), José Antonio Vidal took part in the panel discussion ‘Development of gastronomic tourism in Russia’, moderated by Leonid Gelibterman, in which Mr. Vidal stressed that “wine tourism -matching with gastronomy proposals- is the real motor for agritourism destinations”, offering GWTO support for its socio-economic development.

José Antonio Vidal gave as well a master class about wine tourism for professors and students of the Higher School of Economics, one of the leading universities in Russia with campus in Perm, Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

GWTO president had a useful and important meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Youth Policy of the Perm Krai, Yulia Vetoshkina, who appreciated the potential of cooperation with the GWTO for the development of agritourism in the Perm Region, planning to include in the next meeting the Ministers of Culture and Agriculture, as well as the academic sector of Perm. As a joke -but, as we know, every joke has its share of truth-, Ms. Vetoshkina suggested opening a GWTO office in Perm.

In Moscow, José Antonio Vidal held four important negotiations with the main national stakeholders.

The president of the Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Russia,Leonid Popovich, who said: “We discussed the benefits of GWTO membership for producers who are members of the Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Russia”. Mr. Popovich described the possibilities of cooperation as fantastic: “We also discussed the prospects of cooperation between the GWTO Academy and Russian universities because the Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers is interested in increasing the professional level of the industry participants”. 

From the Government of the Russian Federation, the Adviser to the Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism), Yulia Rybakova, will organize meetings among GWTO with the Ministers of Tourism of the Russian wine regions.

From the academic side, the Rector of the Moscow State University of Tourism and Sports, Masyagina Natalia Vasilievna, has also shown her interest in the educational field of the GWTO Academy.

Finally, José Antonio Vidal held a meeting with the Director of Simple Wine Travel Agency, Natalia Zhestkova, the main outcoming wine tourism touroperator in Russia.

About GWTO

A Global wine, agri and gastro Tourism Business and Knowledge Network, comprising the whole agritourism value chain located in wine destinations -related to ‘wine’ in its broader sense-, the public sector and the academic by GWTO Academy. GWTO has been created to enhance the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations and its residents through strategic value propositions, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework, based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More info: Julia Smirnova
[email protected]

The Georgian EnoTourism Association (GETA) and Caucasus Int’l University join GWTO

With many centuries of experience in the field of winemaking, Georgia considers wine tourism as a source of revitalization.

To advance and move forward into a management and development stage, the Georgian EnoTourism Association (Geta) and its associate, the Caucasus International University (CIU), have formalized their membership to the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO).

“Working together with GWTO is a great opportunity to promote the development of wine tourism in Georgia, actively contribute to the success of family wineries and their products, increase educational activities and, most importantly, to carry Georgia’s name as one of the best destinations for wine tourism in the international arena”, says the founder and member of the Geta Board of Directors, Kety Gorgiladze.

On August 5, the Rector of CIU, Kakhaber Kordzaia, and the founder of Geta, Keti Gorgiladze, held a meeting with the President of GWTO José Antonio Vidal, and the Senior Advisor, Carlos Vogeler, during which various areas of cooperation with GWTO and with the GWTO Academy were discussed.

Geta and GWTO thank the Ambassador of Georgia in Spain, H.E. Mr. Ilia Giorgadze for his collaboration, as well as the gastronomic writer and editor Federico Oldenburg, for his mediation.

The Global Wine Tourism Organization is presented in Puglia (Italy)

The first experience in Puglia for José Antonio Vidal (OMET President), where he had the opportunity to participate in a journey along almost the entire region to discover some excellent food and wine experiences having the opportunity to know its history, culture, tradition and simplicity of the genuine products of this land of the sun, taking an active part in all activities: picked tomatoes, strawberries and zucchini in a farm in Manduria run by a typical apulian family; visited the olive oil mills (frontoi) typical of Gallipoli area; has tasted the wines of the best wineries that produce Primitivo and Negramaro inside some exclusive Masserie, only to name a few. And to get even more into connection with the locals, José Antonio participated in a lab-cooking class to create the famous orecchiette, one of the symbolic products of the region.

During the live event at Oasi Quattro Colonne (Santa Maria al Bagno, Lecce) -the first in attendance after almost two years!-,  José Antonio presented GWTO to Puglia, the Global Wine Tourism Organization, in order to give its support to all companies and local actors who want to enter into a new vision of Wine Tourism: “Smart tourist destinations cannot exist without taking account of the sustainability and inclusiveness, not only as distinctive factors, but also as fundamental principles of the company’s philosophy and daily practice.  Now the capital relational takes on value over any other capital, ways of relating and uniting to be successful:  working together within the industry to strengthen quality and support the sale of local and fresh products and season to reactivate consumption and economy, supporting the entrepreneurial fabric “closer”, said the GWTO president.

In addition to interactive workshops and show cookings that have delighted all guests, high-level speakers have followed each other in the thematic panels.

About GWTO

A Global Wine Tourist Business and Knowledge Network -related to wine in its broader sense-, comprising the whole agritourist value chain (from public, private resources located in wine destinations, and academic sectors),  to contribute to the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information: [email protected]

United through Wine Tourism. The GWTO Circles: Connecting Governments

Inspiring New Futures Together

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Argentina, Matías Lammens and the Director General of Tourism Policy of Greece, Panagiota Dionysopoulou, participated on Monday November 30 in the first round-table organized by the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) within its ”Connecting Governments” initiative.

The act was moderated by GWTO MICE Director, Arnaldo Nardone and conducted by the GWTO President CEO, José Antonio Vidal, who started by pointing out one of the main commitments of the Organization: the coopetitiveness between all agents conforming the value chain in the Wine Tourism sector.

“As proof of it, today we have with us, two of the twenty countries that count with a Wine Tourism offer: welcome Argentina and Greece.” With a “Let the Wine Tourism party begin!”, Vidal gave way to the respective promotional videos, after which both guests started the talk on the topics proposed by the Director of the ‘GWTO Academy’, Coralie Haller and the Regional Directors, Pablo Singerman (Latin America) and Leonid Gelibterman (Eastern Europe and Western and Central Asia).

Matías Lammens  stated that “Wine Tourism is one of the biggest strengths in Argentina due to the competitive advantages that it offers to the tourists, in comparison with the rest of the World: climate and landscape diversity, the excellent quality of the wines and of the national gastronomy, Safe Travel certification and its current currency exchange rate”.

The Minister also mentioned that “this year we have carried out a Plan on three fronts: Industry sustainability, Training and Improvement of infrastructures. Thus, the Argentinean Wine Tourism Observatory was created, the Wine Tourism Marketing Plan has been designed and the app for the ‘Wine, travels and gatherings’ was launched”

Panagiota Dionysopoulou, on her part, highlighted that “Wine Tourism is a high priority matter within the agenda of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, which has been actively joining initiatives such as Open Cellar Doors. Their main goal for 2021 is the recovery of the country as a tourist destination, improving the investment regulatory framework and adopting all the required measures to keep up with the new global trends. The future will be different and challenging, but filled with opportunities for innovation”.

Lastly, toasting with a wine from each other’s country, they sealed the incorporation of both nations to the Organization. Lammens and Dionysopoulou expressed their enthusiasm in regards to the launching of GWTO: “For us the creation of GWTO is a great news and it coincides with our spirit. We celebrate it and we imagine ourselves working side to side”, the Argentinean Minister concluded. For the Director General of Tourism Policy of Greece “GWTO and its Academy will provide an inclusive cooperative governance and all the necessary strategic tools for the sector. We are happy and we greatly appreciate the cooperation with all the task-force involved in managing GWTO with passion, led by José Antonio Vidal”.

During the meeting, the President of GWTO also announced the creation of the World Wine Tourism Economic Monitor, the GWTO Seal of Quality -which will greatly benefit the promotion of the Wine Tourism products for their commercialization-, the creation of the International Wine Tourism market place and the organization of events at both local and global levels.

About GWTO

International network of knowledge and entrepreneurism that integrates both the public and private sectors, in order to contribute to the socio-economic development of enotouristic destinations. All the foregoing encompassed within an inclusive, supportive and sustainable governance framework aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information: [email protected]; [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet @gwto_academy

Official presentation: One of the most ‘inclusive and sustainable’ tourist project ever

Inspiring new futures together

The Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) and the GWTO Academy formally presented its Founder President CEO, Regional Directors and the Director of the Academy, via videoconference the GWTO initiative and their roles in the organization.

The ceremony was followed in five continents by professionals in tourism, wine, gastronomy, agriculture; consumers, media and social network influencers, government representatives, academics and educators.

The Global Wine Tourism Organization community is made up over 50 states, of which 25 offer wine tourism proposals with the rest in the process of doing so, are issuers of wine tourism, or have interests in the sector through indirect stakeholders.

Rafael Ansón, President of Honor:

“The essence of wine tourism is getting to know a region through its wine-making and oenology while admiring its landscape, its architectural jewels and its gastronomy. Wine tourism gains an instrumental importance as an activity revitalizing to the cultural and environmental heritage wherever the wine making tradition is located. I would like to share with you my satisfaction that GWTO has been created to contribute to the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations in an international unifying and collaborative framework.”

José Antonio Vidal, Founder President CEO:

“The dream of the ‘Big World Wine Tourism Family’ begins to become reality today, at a time when globalism has been torpedoed at its waterline:in critical moments, the riskiest proposals are put on the table.Public and private sectors, and the most prestigious academic authorities have evaluated GWTO not only as necessary but also timely: Few business activities have the growth prospects that this sector will have after the pandemic. There is a large window of opportunity linked to the benefits offered by a sector as comprehensive and transversal as wine tourism: we have ahead one of the most inclusive and sustainable Tourist projects ever. We are forced to turn the crisis into a transformative opportunity.”

Coralie Haller PhD, GWTO Academy Director: ‘Research for Education’

“GWTO Academy, as a center and collective academic voice in Wine Tourism Knowledge Management, assumes a paradigm shift towards a new governance model led by Inclusivity, Solidarity and Sustainability.

As Cultural Tourism that we are, GWTO Academy is committed to the development of a new framework of governance aligned to UN Agenda 2030 in terms on Universal respect, Gender and Social Equality, Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Climate, Ecosystems and Partnerships to develop and promote academic research collaborations through the creation and dissemination of knowledge via academic publications in scientific journals and books, publications of case studies, and organization of conferences, supporting the GWTOs’ Economic Monitor and Quality seal, in order to professionalize the sector through specialized training programs, working together with fellows from leading universities and institutions of higher education, specialized in tourism and in agri and gastrotourism.

This will ensure the training of the international wine tourism professionals who will be leading the wine tourism of the future to be recognized as a GLOBAL ECONOMIC INDUSTRY.”

Pablo Singerman, LatAm Director:

“We are going to support and work strongly together with the Public, Private and Academic sectors to consolidate the development of Wine and Gastronomy Tourism in Latin America. The expectation generated by the creation of GWTO and the Academy is enormous, both in consolidated and emerging destinations. Latin America and its experiences of Wine and Gastronomy welcomes the World through GWTO.”

Margaret Chen, Eastern Asia Director:

“Of all the tourists in the world roughly about 25%, or 350 million, tourists are from Asia. Among that figure China alone totaled 140 million in 2019. Asia tourism invests lifestyle, culture  and luxury products. Wine Tourism is in a good moment to help enrich the culture, increase the knowledge, and create good relationship between nations. I foresee an initiative such as GWTO a great success in the near future committed to inclusivity, solidarity, and sustainability as key issues in the New Wine Tourism.”

Leonid Gelibterman, Eastern Europe & Western-Central Asia Director:

“The creation of GWTO will mean using advanced global experience, expanding opportunities to inform potential tourists about the offers available in various countries, establishing a system for exchanging experiences between regions, particularly the countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Occidental, raising the standard of knowledge by training high-level experts through the GWTO Academy.”

Marisah Nieuwoudt, Africa Director:

“I am proud to represent the African region in the newly formed GWTO and look forward to exchanging knowledge and best practice with African winemaking countries, like South Africa, Algeria, Morocco and Ethiopia, as well as our GWTO colleagues internationally.”

Erik Wolf, Western & Central Europe Director:

“I am pleased to support the GWTO’s development efforts in Western & Central Europe. Since 2001, when we founded the culinary tourism industry, we have seen first-hand how beverages have played a tremendous role in the development of gastronomy tourism around the world. Wine is a product enjoyed by visitors and locals alike, and holds great potential to make an important economic impact in GWTO’s participating areas.”

Robin Shaw, Oceania Director:

“Wine (and food) tourism is an important driver for travel to and within Australia and New Zealand. I have had the privilege of working with the sector to advance its development since 2003, while also observing the exponential growth of wine tourism globally during this time. It is therefore an honour to be aligned with the GWTO and its vision for world-wide collaboration and innovation in wine tourism.”

David Furer, North America Director:

“José Antonio Vidal’s creation of the GWTO during this worldwide viral pandemic, economic recession, and climate crisis has taken vision and fortitude. I’m pleased and honored to be representing North America while assisting GWTO in its international communications.”

ABOUT GWTO

Global Wine Tourism Network on Knowledge and Business, comprised of public sector (governments at central, regional and local levels),  educational institutions and businesses in all value chain, under 2 membership types –Associates and Observers, as countries already consolidated or with projection in the wine tourism sector-, to contribute to the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations, as part of an inclusive and sustainable governance framework developed by the Academy, based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information: [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet @gwto_academy

GWTO invited by USIL University (Lima) to its International Congress

GWTO presides the first round table discussion “GWTO: Inspiring New Futures in Latin America”, into the ‘International Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy Congress’ by San Ignacio de Loyola University (Lima, Perú)

Moderated by former Casa de América General Manager Tomás Poveda, the discussion focused on wine tourism in Latin America with the participation of:

  • Rafael Ansón
    • GWTO President of Honor
    • International and Ibero-American Academies of Gastronomy President of Honor
  • José Antonio Vidal
    • GWTO and GWTO Academy, Founder President CEO
    • Spanish Wine Tourism Association (AEE) and Enotourism Institute of Spain (ieE), Founder President CEO
  • Pablo Singerman
    • GWTO LatAm Director and Economic Monitor Director
    • Wine Tourism Marketing Strategy, and Wine Tourism and MICE Tourism Observatories Director for Argentina’s Ministry of Tourism
  • Carlos Vogeler
    • Former UNWTO Executive Director
    • Former UNWTO Regional Director for the Americas
  • Arnaldo Nardone
    • GWTO MICE Director
    • Former ICCA-Int’l Congress and Convention Association President
  • Jorge Espinoza
    • GWTO Academic
    • Member of SERNATUR-Chile’s National Tourism Service for O’Higgins region

Program: https://cutt.ly/sgE7UGL

ABOUT GWTO

International knowledge and business network that brings together public and private sectors to contribute to the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information: [email protected]; [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet @gwto_academy

GWTO saddened as California fire ravages Napa, Sonoma

The Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) is saddened to see the reports and images of the Glass Fire ravaging California and in particular the Napa and Sonoma counties and the damage to the environment, vineyards, wineries, hotels, restaurants and other property.

As a result, wine tourism in the area will be severely impacted for the months and years to come, seriously affecting the livelihood of local communities.

Our thoughts go out to the people who have been affected and to the brave men and women who are fighting the blaze.

We hope the fires will be quickly brought under control and the damage limited.

The wine industry has suffered from climate change for many years, and the intensity of the Glass Fire is a sign that further urgent action is required.

We at GWTO offer our full support and assistance to the local authorities.

ABOUT GWTO

international network that brings together governments, institutions and companies to contribute to social-economic development as part of an inclusive and supportive framework based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information: [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet @gwto_academy

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