ISO/TC 228 will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, en event that it is expected to be a mileston for the tourism of the country.
In 2025, Rio de Janeiro will host the annual event of ISO/TC 228, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) technical committee dedicated to tourism activities. ISO/TC 228 was created in 2005, with Brazil actively participating since its first meeting through the Brazilian Tourism Committee (CB 54), linked to the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). Although the exact dates of the event have not yet been defined, it is expected to be an important milestone for the Brazilian tourism sector.
The main objective of ISO/TC 228 is to develop international standards that guarantee the quality, safety and sustainability of tourist services. Currently led by Spain, the committee has the participation of 105 countries and several organizations related to tourism. Throughout its trajectory, the group has already produced 46 international technical standards and is working on 17 more new documents.
At the event, technicians and specialists from several countries will meet in thematic working groups to discuss and define best practices for tourism, addressing topics such as terminology, services, destinations, equipment, infrastructure, sustainability, safety and quality. The norms resulting from these discussions, when approved by consensus, can be used as an international standard for the promotion of tourism by governments, companies in the sector and even by tourists themselves.
The choice of Brazil to host the event was enthusiastically received by the president of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo. He emphasized that the year 2025 will be important for the country, as it will also be the year of COP-30, highlighting the importance of sustainability for Brazil. Many of the themes addressed at ISO are related to sustainable and responsible tourism, making this opportunity even more significant.
Participating in ISO/TC 228 meetings is a valuable opportunity for Brazil, allowing the country to contribute its intelligence and technical opinion in joint discussions with other nations. This provides constructive interference, allowing the Brazilian view to be taken into account in the process of defining international standards. An example of this involvement is Embratur’s Nature and Special Segments coordinator, Leonardo de Moura Persi, who represents Brazil at ISO/TC 228 at the head of the adventure tourism WG.
Since 2016, Brazil has also coordinated the Sustainable Tourism WG, led by Alexandre Garrido. International standardization is seen as a strategic activity that directly impacts the competitiveness of companies and tourist destinations, highlighting the importance of Brazilian participation and leadership in this process.
The initiative to bring the event to Brazil came from the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), at the request of the National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), with the support of Embratur, the Ministry of Tourism, the National Sebrae and the Brazilian Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Companies (ABETA).
With the holding of this important international event on Brazilian soil, the country reinforces its commitment to excellence in the tourism sector, seeking international standards that ensure the quality and sustainability of this fundamental segment for the country’s economy and development.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
