Experts from 15 countries will converge on San José, Costa Rica in October to share ideas and strategies on  sustainable tourism.

The International Conference on Sustainable Tourism with its theme of Planet, People and Peace (P3), will feature exhibitors from Iceland, Holland, United States, Chile, Canada, Korea, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala and also from some African nations, said event organizers.

“The objective is to be able to bring together world leaders on the theme of tourism and sustainability to share knowledge and experiences on good practices that can be replicated, and also on what aspects can be improved,” said the Executive Director of Costa Rica’s National Chamber of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism (Canaeco), Natalie Carballo .

The event will center on the topic of how tourism can be a tool for promoting development, especially as it relates to furthering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Other priority topics include how climate change affects the industry and what leaders in different locales are doing to counteract this phenomenon.

The event, which will be held from October 9 – 11  is carried out  in conjunction with the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and Canaeco.

“Costa Rica has been characterized as a tourist destination that promotes sustainability in an integral way in its three axes of action: social, environmental and economic. The country has used tourism as a tool for the promotion of culture, and to advance social welfare and economic development of the communities, and of the tourist companies themselves,” said ICT general manager, Alberto López.

Special guests include Edwin Zanen from Holland who develops long-term relationships with foreign partners wishing to operate tours and events in a sustainable way in Iceland, and Canadian Anita Mendiratta, a global strategic consultant on destinations, recovery, and competitiveness, said the organizers.

2017 was declared International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations, and the P3 conference is a space to further sustainable business practices and to promote environmentally conscious habits of tourists.