The tourism minister, David Colladohighlighted the scope of an agreement signed between the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in which it will contribute to boosting the economy with support for MSMEs rural areas, providing more jobs for rural women and youth in these provinces with tourism potential.
He explained that, as part of the agreement and within the framework of the Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan, some US$220,000 will be invested in the implementation of a project in the aforementioned provinces where the government promotes development plans and has begun to strengthen tourist centers with up to 3,000 rooms that will be in operation by 2023.
According to a statement, with the signing of this agreement, the specialized agency of the UN will support the government through the development of a model that stimulates the activities of the MSMEs rural areas, strengthening farmers’ associations, training and access to microcredit.
Collado specified that it will promote competitiveness, family farming and support for agricultural producers, also contributing to the preparation of these existing small businesses, associations and cooperatives for their connection with the new formal private markets, diversifying their offer and boosting their activities.
The head of the Mitur highlighted the benefits that this cooperation of the FAO in the recovery of the sector, creating more jobs for rural women and youth, contributing to the demand for the production of food, goods and services in the tourism value chain in these provinces.
He indicated that for the execution of this model, which will be focused on family farming and its insertion in the tourism value chain, it is contemplated to form a technical table that brings together key actors in the sector, both public and private.
This, in order to develop a dialogue mechanism that allows identifying markets with greater potential to link producers with these production chains in the intervention provinces.
In addition, work will be done on the institutional strengthening of the Ministries of Tourism and Industry and Commerce for the development of associative, general and productive capacities of rural companies.
Digitization
Minister Collado added that the agreement includes digitization, both in production efficiency as well as in the connection and commercialization of markets.
Likewise, it will promote the access of associations, cooperatives and MSMEs rural areas to information and communication technologies (ICT) to explore the use of marketplace virtual, blockchain for commerce, virtual payment platforms for unbanked producers, e-learning and virtual capacity development, among others.
