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Iberian EnoTourism Route

ENG / ESP
Press Release.
The Iberian Peninsula, cradle of the Eno and Gastronomy Tourism between the Old and the New World.

“Coopetitiveness (competing with a cooperative spirit) will be more essential than ever during and after the pandemic. Entrepreneurs and actors from the Public Sector are required to be supportive among ourselves and with the community, collaborating with actions that contribute both to the socio-economical development of the destinations and their residents as well as to the consumers satisfaction”, says José Antonio Vidal, Founder President CEO of the Spanish Enotourism Association (AEE) and Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO).

“An example of the above, is the alliance between the Spanish (AEE) and the Portuguese (APENO) EnoTourism Associations. Two countries that share geography and hospitality and that are now united to boost and emphasize the great richness of their cultural heritage, their history, their art and their wine and gastronomy tradition”, stated Maria João de Almeida, President of the Portuguese Enotourism Association (APENO) and GWTO Country Manager for Portugal.

The tourism product will be designed by a team of Spanish-Portuguese tour operators and marketed internationally.

“The entire Spanish-Portuguese border (La Raya-A Raia), from the stuary of the Miño-Minho River down to tha the Guadiana River, features the tourism resources necessary for the creation of quality offerings around the ‘Longest Wine Route between two countries within the European Union’ with more than 1.215 kms,” says Vidal.

“That is why GWTO will promote the Iberian EnoTourism Route internationally, and will encourage public administrations of both countries to provide it with all the necessary infrastructures for its success in the markets, both in terms of connectivity, accesiility and signposting,” concludes the president.

The AEE-APENO agreement, counts as well with the support of the Academies of Gastronomy and Chef Associations (FACYRE and AHRESP) from Spain and Portugal.

Gastronomy has become a socio-economical engine that not only attracts a growing gourmet sector, but that also enriches the perception of the destination for national and international tourists. Every wine touristic proposal -both in the wineries and in destinations- must incorporate the essential harmony between wine and food, agree Rafael Ansón (President of Honor of the International, Iberoamerican and Spanish Academies of Gastronomy), José Bento (President of Honor of the Portuguese Academy of Gastronomy), Pepa Muñoz (President of FACYRE – Spanish Federation of Chefs and Confectioners Associations) and Paulo Mendonça (Vicepresident of AHRESP -Association of Chefs, Restaurants and Similars of Portugal).

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Ruta Ibérica del EnoTurismo

La Península Ibérica, cuna del turismo eno-gastronómico entre el Viejo y el Nuevo Mundo.

“La coopetitividad (competir desde la colaboración) será más esencial que nunca durante y después de la pandemia. Los empresarios y los actores del sector público estamos obligados a ser solidarios entre nosotros y con la comunidad, cooperando en acciones que aporten tanto desarrollo socio-económico a los destinos y sus residentes, como satisfacción a los consumidores”, afirma José Antonio Vidal, Presidente CEO de la Asociación Española de Enoturismo (AEE) y de la Organización Mundial del EnoTurismo (OMET).

“La iniciativa surge fruto del hermanamiento binacional en materia enoturística, entre las Asociaciones Española (AEE) y Portuguesa (APENO) de Enoturismo. Dos países que comparten geografía y hospitalidad, y que ahora se unen para potenciar y destacar conjuntamente su gran riqueza patrimonial, Historia, Arte y eno-gastronomía”, señala Maria João de Almeida, Presidenta de las Asociación Portuguesa de Enoturismo (APENO) y Directora de OMET para Portugal.

El producto turístico será diseñado por un equipo de turoperadores hispano-luso y comercializado internacionalmente.

“Toda la frontera hispano-lusa (La Raya-A Raia), desde la desembocadura del río Miño-Minho hasta la del río Guadiana, cuenta con todos los recursos turísticos necesarios para la creación de oferta de calidad en torno a la ‘Ruta del Vino más Larga entre dos países de la Unión Europea’ con más de 1.215 kms”, constata Vidal.

“Es por ello que OMET promoverá internacionalmente la Ruta Ibérica del Enoturismo, e instará a las administraciones públicas de ambos países para dotarla de todas las infraestructuras necesarias para su éxito en los mercados, en lo que a conectividad, accesibilidad y señalética se refiere”, concluye el Presidente.

Al convenio AEE-APENO se suman los apoyos de las Academias de Gastronomía y Asociaciones de Restauradores (FACYRE y AHRESP) españolas y portuguesas.

La gastronomía se ha convertido en un motor socio-económico, que no sólo atrae a un creciente segmento gourmet, sino que enriquece la percepción del destino por parte de turistas nacionales e internacionales. Toda propuesta enoturística -en bodega y en destinos- ha de incorporar la fundamental armonía del vino con la comida, coinciden Rafael Ansón (Presidente de Honor de las Academias Internacional, Iberoamericana y Española de Gastronomía), José Bento (Presidente de Honor de la Academia Portuguesa de Gastronomía), Pepa Muñoz (Presidenta de FACYRE -Federación de Asociaciones de Cocineros y Reposteros de España-) y Paulo Mendonça (Vicepresidente de AHRESP -Asociación de Hostelería, Restauración y Similares de Portugal-).

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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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