Maria José Abuabara is an internationally recognized leader in sustainable tourism and bilateral destination development. As the Executive Tourism Director of ProColombia USA, she has led transformative strategies that positioned Colombia as the #1 Latin American destination for U.S. travelers and the 4th most connected country in the hemisphere. With nearly two decades of experience in tourism diplomacy, her work has resulted in groundbreaking public-private alliances, innovation projects, development efforts in underserved communities, and high-impact campaigns.
Maria José Abuabara co-led the First Bilateral Scientific Tourism Expedition between U.S. and Colombia partners bringing closer scientific and tourism authorities, creating a replicable model of regenerative tourism in partnership with The Explorers Club and top scientific institutions. She serves on the Destinations International Futures Study Global Advisory Board, is part of Cornell University’s STAMP Sustainable Destination Management alumni and has been featured on the only tourism panel at the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting, moderated by Condé Nast and joined by UN Tourism, Forte Village Group, and the African Union, affirming her leadership at the nexus of sustainability, policy, and global tourism.