World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Ministry of Tourism of Argentina are pleased to announce that the 2nd UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism will take place on 29-30 September, 2017 in Mendoza, Argentina.

Following the success of the 1st edition, which took place in the Kakheti Region, Georgia, in September 2016, this upcoming edition will be held in the Province of Mendoza. This region, known as the heart of Argentine winemaking, accounts for 70% of the national production of wine and about 85% of the bottled wine sales. The identity of Mendoza is strongly linked to wine and it is an ideal venue offering participants the opportunity to experience firsthand a variety of wine tourism projects, linking both the public and private actors of the tourism and wine sectors. Against the majestic backdrop of the Argentinian Andes, Mendoza is located on one of the highest mountain ranges in the world which subsequently produces some of the world’s greatest wines.

Furthermore, as this second edition falls within the framework of the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the former will be the core overarching theme of the conference. The International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The link between wine tourism and sustainability also aligns with the 2030 Universal Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. In that respect, the Conference will be dedicated to strengthening the relationship between sustainability and wine tourism, highlighting the valuable role of wine tourism on the sustainable development of tourism destinations.

The Conference will include working sessions taking place in wine tourism venues throughout the province, giving all participants the opportunity to further explore the topics addressed in the sessions and interactively share and exchange ideas. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a technical visit of one of the listed wineries and participate in workshop following the visit. Said workshop will explore the concepts introduced during the morning sessions in a pragmatic way. Ultimately, the groups will participate in an interactive session to draw the most relevant conclusions that will later be incorporated into the conference brief.

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