The 22 countries that make up the Ibero-American community are gathered this year in Cuba to join forces in the development of the tourism rural or community, increasingly in demand among its visitors.
The International Tourism Fair (Fitur) of Madrid hosted this Thursday in Madrid the presentation of the X Ibero-American Tourism Meeting, scheduled for September 29 to October 5 in the western region of the island.
“For successful community development” is the motto of this event, promoted by different Cuban entities, such as its Ministry of Tourism, the Agrarian University of Havana and the state company Ecotur, together with the Ibero-American Institute of Rural Tourism (Iberoatur), based in Spain.
The general secretary of Iberoatur, Juan José Salado, highlighted in the presentation the challenge of having all 22 countries participate this year, with representatives from sectors such as business, especially entrepreneurs, public institutions, universities and different associations.
For his part, the general director of Ecotur, Raúl Naranjo, explained that the meeting will focus on how to promote agrotourism, the promotion of sustainable rural tourism, the inclusion of local communities, the problem of climate change that may affect to the sector and the challenge of marketing this type of tourist offer.
The participants will be received in the Cuban capital with a peasant party to the rhythm of the typical guajira, and in the following days they will visit different farms in provinces such as Mayabeque, Artemisa and Pinar del Río, the latter a reference in tobacco cultivation on the island and in tourism associated with this activity.
Rural or community tourism moved some 576 million dollars in 2022, according to data from UN Tourism, an organization that places Latin America and the Caribbean among the regions with the greatest potential for this economic activity that can contribute to sustainable development hand in hand with local communities.
