South America Takes Off with Asia: A Strategic Opportunity for Tourism Development

On October 16 and 17, the Strategic Dialogues Foundation, an institutional member of our Federation, carried out two initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism, economic, and cultural ties between South America and Asia. The activities took place in the city of Puerto Iguazú, home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Iguazú Falls.

Day One: Meeting on “Air Connectivity in South America: A Bridge for Asian Tourism”

During the first session, the Strategic Dialogues Foundation organized the meeting “Air Connectivity in South America: A Bridge for Asian Tourism.”
The event brought together key representatives from the tourism, hospitality, and gastronomy sectors of Puerto Iguazú, including the General Manager of Iguazú National Park and the President of the Puerto Iguazú Tourism Chamber. It also featured a special guest, the Mayor of Machu Picchu (Peru), Elvis La Torre Uñaccori.

The meeting served as a space to discuss the potential of Asian tourism and the need to build and maintain an integrated and sustainable air corridor capable of strengthening cooperation among destinations across the region.

In this regard, tourism from Asia represents a strategic opportunity for South America. Travelers from that continent, especially from China, seek authentic, cultural, and natural experiences that South America can uniquely offer. Improving air connectivity and simplifying migration procedures are key factors in attracting this high-income market, which shows growing interest in distant destinations.

“Connecting Iguazú with Lima is valuable because it saves Asian tourists from having to travel through São Paulo or Buenos Aires, saving hours of travel time” said Rodrigo Herrera Bravo, President of the Strategic Dialogues Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Machu Picchu, Elvis La Torre Uñaccori, stated that “tourism must be a State policy. Based on that, we must deepen our efforts together with the private sector to make our natural wonders known to the world.”

Day Two: “Sister Cities Agreement between Machu Picchu and Puerto Iguazú”

During the second day, the Strategic Dialogues Foundation facilitated a historic milestone: the signing of the sister-city agreement between Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) and Machu Picchu (Peru), attended by the Mayor of Puerto Iguazú, Claudio Filippa, his Peruvian counterpart, and the Governor of Argentina’s Misiones Province, Hugo Passalacqua.

Coinciding with the inauguration of a new air route between Lima and Puerto Iguazú, this agreement marks the first step in a broader collaboration that will allow for future joint initiatives, uniting two world marvels: one natural (Iguazú Falls) and one cultural (Machu Picchu).

At the close of the event, the Mayor of Puerto Iguazú announced his city’s intention to apply for membership in our Federation next year. Currently, only Argentina’s capital city is part of it.

Why Is It Important?

The partnership between Machu Picchu and Puerto Iguazú represents a concrete step toward South American integration that goes beyond tourism. Cooperation between emblematic destinations serves as a driver for regional development and for strengthening a shared identity across the subcontinent.

Moreover, these initiatives show that tourism not only connects places, but also unites values and identities. They reinforce the idea that sustainable growth must be driven by building a common brand—one that presents South America as a united bloc, able to project itself to the world with a single voice and a shared vision.

The WTCF thanks the Strategic Dialogues Foundation for reaffirming its commitment to regional integration and the promotion of sustainable development, fostering dialogue spaces that help position South America as a globally relevant destination.

About the Strategic Dialogues Foundation

The Strategic Dialogues Foundation is a non-profit Argentine organization and an institutional member of our Federation since April 2025.
Founded in 2012 and based in Buenos Aires, it is dedicated to contributing to thought, education, dissemination, and initiatives within the field of social sciences that promote the common good.