- During the Tourism Innovation Summit, held from October 22 to 24 in Seville, Spain, Ecuador was recognised among the top three global initiatives in artificial intelligence and innovation at the “Tourism Awards 2025.”
- Turismo de Quito also shared its experience as a smart destination in a roundtable discussion on pioneering initiatives in Latin America, reaffirming Ecuador’s leadership in digital tourism transformation.
Ecuador’s commitment to tourism innovation was prominently showcased at the Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) 2025 in Seville, Spain. The Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment, through the Vice Ministry of Tourism, and Turismo de Quito, actively participated in the event: The country’s strategy for sustainable development and tourism competitiveness, which relies on data intelligence, earned significant international recognition at the Tourism Awards 2025. Additionally, Ecuador’s capital presented its smart destination model to global industry leaders. This highlights the dedication of Ecuadorian administrations to leveraging technological innovation and sustainability as key pillars for tourism development.
The project “Diversifying Tourism with Big Data and AI: promoting sustainable experiences and improving national competitiveness.,” from the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment and the Vice Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador, was recognised as one of the three best international initiatives in the “AI & Digital Innovation Excellence” category of the “Tourism Awards 2025″.
Ecuador stands out as the sole Latin American nation to be recognised in this category this year. This distinction is a result of its advanced tourism intelligence system, which leverages a combination of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and open data. This system aids in informed decision-making, broadens tourism offerings, and enhances the destination’s competitive edge. Mabrian, the global travel intelligence and tourism advisory partner, provides the technology that underpins both this award-winning project and Ecuador’s comprehensive tourism intelligence system, facilitating the integration of various information sources and the tracking of essential indicators.
This recognition consolidates Ecuador’s position as a regional leader in the strategic use of tourism intelligence as a lever for more sustainable and efficient management, based on data and knowledge -an aspect that Mabrian and the Ecuador Tourism Promotion Institute (PROECUADOR) discussed in a meeting with Borys Alfredo Mejía Aguirre, representative of PROECUADOR’s Spanish office.
Furthermore, it reflects the success of the collaborative vision, promoted by the Vice Ministry of Tourism, which brings together the efforts of the private sector, educational institutions, and local governments, committed to the creation and promotion of responsible and authentic experiences throughout Ecuador.
Turismo de Quito: A Smart Destination Model
Also during the Tourism Innovation Summit 2025, the Ecuadorian capital showcased the achievements of its smart destination project in a presentation that was part of the congress agenda.
In the roundtable discussion “Smart Territories in Latin America: Real Solutions for Global Challenges,” the acting general manager of Turismo de Quito, Amelia Alejandra Ordóñez Muñoz, shared the Metropolitan District’s strategies to promote a smart tourism model based on sustainability, citizen participation, and the efficient use of technology.
The panel featured a range of experts, including Valeria Méndez Vizcay, General Director of the Municipal Tourism and Culture Authority of Mar del Plata; Federico de Arteaga, President of the Ibero-American Network of Smart Destinations; and Patricia Albanez, State Coordinator of Tourism for SEBRAE Brasil. The representative of the Quito Metropolitan Tourism Authority also presented initiatives that highlight Quito’s progress as an innovative, resilient, and connected destination.
Ecuador has solidified its position as a regional leader in tourism innovation, thanks to this event, an international platform that recognised the efforts of its tourism authorities, underscoring the country’s commitment to integrating data, technology, and a sustainable vision as key drivers for the future of the tourism sector.
