Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. – Within the framework of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly and the 45th Plenary Session of Affiliate Members, the President of the Buenos Aires Tourism Board, Valentín Díaz Gilligan, presented the proposal to organize an International Sports Tourism Forum in the Argentine capital, coinciding with the designation of Buenos Aires as World Capital of Sports 2027.

The initiative aims to bring together public and private sector leaders to promote the development of sports tourism, create investment opportunities, and strengthen the city’s international projection.

“During the 45th Plenary Session of UN Tourism Affiliate Members, we presented the proposal to organize an International Sports Tourism Forum in Buenos Aires. The initiative will bring together public and private stakeholders to drive the development of sports tourism, foster investment opportunities, and strengthen our role on the international agenda,” explained Díaz Gilligan.

Argentina and Buenos Aires with active presence in Riyadh

From Saudi Arabia, Díaz Gilligan highlighted the importance of participating in a meeting that gathers the main leaders of the global tourism industry.

“I’m very pleased to be here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, attending this 26th UN Tourism Assembly. From Buenos Aires, we participate as Affiliate Members, and Argentina’s presence in this organization has always been very important,” he said.

The official also emphasized that such spaces allow for the exchange of experiences with other cities and countries:

“It’s very interesting to come here and exchange experiences with different organizations, cities, and countries. I think this will be a very productive assembly.”

Tourism as an engine of growth and employment

During the sessions, UN Tourism presented data confirming the exponential global growth of the tourism sector. In this context, Díaz Gilligan stressed the economic impact of tourism in generating jobs.

“Tourism growth around the world is exponential. People are traveling more than ever. In 1950 there were 25 million international trips; 75 years later, there are 1.4 billion. This is linked to advances in technology, transportation, and the professionalization of the sector,” he explained.

And he added:

“Tourism will be a major source of employment in the coming years. The services industry is currently the world’s largest employer, and tourism plays a fundamental role in that.”

Buenos Aires, a strategic and competitive destination

The head of the Buenos Aires Tourism Board highlighted the importance of the sector in the city’s economy.

“For us, tourism is a strategic activity. We receive nearly 3 million international tourists and about 7 million domestic tourists. The sector employs 150,000 people. It’s crucial to raise visibility and create new experiences, working hand in hand with the private sector.”

Díaz Gilligan emphasized the coordinated work with industry chambers, professionals, and tourism stakeholders, positioning Buenos Aires among the leading destinations in Latin America.

Public-private partnership: the Buenos Aires model

The UN Tourism General Assembly this year is held under the theme “Public-Private Partnerships for Tourism,” a model that, according to Díaz Gilligan, Buenos Aires has already successfully consolidated.

“In Buenos Aires, we have this model well institutionalized. We work daily with the private sector and share representation on the Visit Buenos Aires board — half public, half private,” he explained.

“We don’t conceive our work in any other way than as a perfect partnership with the private sector. For many years, we’ve been working along these lines because the 150,000 jobs generated by tourism in the city are quality private-sector jobs,” he underlined.

Finally, the official emphasized that the international promotion of Buenos Aires is a continuous and strategic effort:

“Our approach is to work together on promotion, on developing our tourism offerings, and on enhancing the international visibility of Buenos Aires. That’s what we do all year round.”