The island director, Pedro González, states that “Tenerife is a fully established tourist destination that opens its doors to Ibero-America. We will put in every effort to meet the standards of an event of immense magnitude that positions us once again as the epicentre of Ibero-America, a bridge uniting continents.”
Bringing the IV Ibero-American Tourism Forum to the Canary Islands
The Tenerife Cabildo’s Department of External Action and Institutional Relations, along with the Departments of Economy, Industry, Trade and Self-Employed Workers, and Tourism and Employment of the Canary Islands Government, have worked collaboratively to bring the upcoming IV Ibero-American Tourism Forum to the Canary Islands. This international meeting will take place in multiple locations, being held in both Arona (Tenerife) and San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Gran Canaria).
The collaboration from the Tenerife Cabildo has been crucial, given that discussions regarding this event began when Tenerife was the host island for the VII Ibero-American Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Forum in November 2025.
Confirmation from Honduras
This announcement comes during the third edition of the forum currently taking place in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. From there, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Internationalisation of the Canary Islands Government and Vice President of Proexca, Gustavo González de Vega, confirmed the news. “The choice of the Canary Islands is a recognition of the international leadership we have built over decades. The Canary Islands is not just a tourist powerhouse; it also exports knowledge, innovation, and solutions to other destinations. Hosting this forum will allow us to place the Canary Islands at the centre of the Ibero-American debate on the future of tourism and strengthen our role as a strategic bridge between Europe and Latin America. We are ready to welcome the entire Ibero-American tourism sector and demonstrate that even from ultra-peripheral islands, we can lead major global transformations in tourism,” said González de Vega.
Acknowledgement of Leadership
Additionally, the General Director of Planning, Training, and Tourism Promotion, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, emphasised that the designation of the Archipelago as the host for the IV Ibero-American Tourism Forum represents “a recognition of the leadership and experience accumulated by the Canary Islands in developing an internationally recognised tourism model based on sustainability, innovation, and public-private collaboration.”
Rodríguez highlighted that this announcement coincides with ongoing international promotion efforts by the Directorate General in Central America, in coordination with the Vice Ministry of Tourism and Proexca. “While confirming participation in key tourism cooperation forums in the region, we maintained a broad agenda of work in Guatemala and El Salvador, holding institutional meetings with the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, the Guatemalan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office, the Spanish Delegation in Antigua Guatemala, the City Council of Antigua Guatemala, and the Salvadoran Tourism Institute.”
Technical Exchanges and Collaboration
Rodríguez also explained that during these visits, lectures and technical meetings were held to share the experiences and tourism model of the Canary Islands, strengthening cooperation ties between the Canary Islands and Central America. “Holding this forum in the islands will allow us to continue this work, creating new opportunities for collaboration and reinforcing the role of the Canary Islands as a strategic bridge between Europe, Africa, and Ibero-America,” he stressed.
For his part, the Director of External Action and Institutional Relations of the Tenerife Cabildo, Pedro González, remarked that “Tenerife is a fully established tourist destination that opens its doors to Ibero-America. For the Island, it is a fantastic opportunity to further strengthen ties with our brother countries, allowing them to better discover all the options Tenerife has to offer.” González added that “we will put in every effort to meet the standards of an event of immense magnitude that once again places us as the epicentre of Ibero-America, a bridge uniting continents.”
The Forum in San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is currently hosting over 900 participants and nearly 100 public and private institutions gathering under the theme “Technology and Development: Intelligence that Empowers Territories.” This strategic space for cooperation and public-private action for the development of the region’s tourism industry brings together representatives and experts from 23 Ibero-American countries and is supported by not only the Government of the Canary Islands but also by the Tenerife Cabildo, CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Grupo COX, Corporación Dinant, MAWDY, Grupo Lafise, Fundación Prospera, and the Free Trade Zone of Cádiz, among others.
Key Themes Addressed at the Forum
The main thematic axes addressed in this meeting are divided into four groups:
- Governance and Public-Private Action: Focusing on big data analysis, territorial intelligence, and real-time decision-making.
- Productivity and Business Competitiveness: Describing innovative business models, digital transformation, and financing aimed at reducing the technological gap for tourism micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
- Inclusivity and Employability: Formulating new professional competencies in response to automation impacts and fostering sustainable job generation for young people and women.
- Sustainability and Adaptability: Collaborative efforts for regenerative tourism, resilience against climatic challenges, and leveraging technological tools for risk mitigation in destinations.
This meeting presents an opportunity for the Canary Island business fabric. The knowledge accumulated over the years as a destination for international tourism provides the archipelago with remarkable experience, positioning both companies and institutions at the forefront of the sector.
