10th Ibero-American Rural Tourism Meeting 2025 in western Cuba

Cuba is preparing to host the 10th Ibero-American Rural Tourism Meeting 2025, an event that goes beyond conventions and positions the country as an epicenter of rural experiences, agrotourism, and community-based tourism. From September 29 through October, Ibero-American delegations will meet in the western part of the island to share knowledge, build alliances, and rethink tourism from a local perspective.

Under the motto “Tourism with meaning and belonging,” the event promises to be a transformative experience that will explore the island’s landscapes, knowledge, and rural communities.

Covering the educational agrotourism modality with conferences, with exchanges with universities… all of this made the difference so that we could host the rural tourism and agrotourism meeting, said Yadira Ramírez, director of Communications for the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), who added at a press conference about the event that these elements guaranteed Cuba’s position as the host of the event, which will also cover adventure tourism.

On the other hand, Telmo Lorenzo Ledo Llanes, a specialist in Tourism Products and Tourism Development Programs at the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), reflected on the communication challenges presented by promoting this type of tourism, with such positive impacts on the development of rural communities.

In the case of Cuba, ties with the Agrarian University of Havana have been fundamental to the development of rural tourism, playing a key role in training in good environmental sustainability practices, as highlighted on speaking to the press by Amílcar Herrera Albear, dean of the university. The President of Iberoatur, Humberto López-Tirone, emphasized in a video the importance he places on this event being held in Cuba, where agrotourism and nature tourism will be discussed in particular.

“This tool is to further the development of tourism, aiming at developing a new product for the Americas: agrotourism. We’re going to meet and celebrate Cuba’s triumph in securing this stage,” said López-Tirone, who expressed his hope that, “Cuba will showcase its beautiful heritage in Latin America with great dignity and hard work.”
Delegates from Spain, Portugal, Panama, Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, and Argentina will attend.

Also present will be delegates from Iberoatur universities and scientific centers, and the Autonomous University of Mexico and Colombia, as well as from Spain, Argentina, and Costa Rica.

Academic panels to rethink rural tourism

The agenda includes spaces for reflection at emblematic institutions such as the University of Havana, the Agrarian University of Havana, and the National Botanical Gardens, where key topics such as the role of rural tourism in the face of climate change will be addressed, with contributions from experts from Chile, Paraguay, Costa Rica, and Cuba. The use of ICTs and Artificial Intelligence in the development of community tourism will also be explored, with success stories from Argentina, Guatemala, Portugal, and Cuba.

Strengthening rural networks and alliances

The Networking Workshop, coordinated by Lina Martínez Aguilar (Mexico), will seek to consolidate the IBEROATUR Rural Women’s Network and foster new alliances for inclusive development. The sessions will include themed lunches, guided tours, and opportunities for exchange between public, private, and community stakeholders.

Tours of farms and rural communities

Participants will visit agrotourism experiences in various regions of the country. In Havana, the program includes the Vista Hermosa and Guanabito farms and the El Bacura and El Patrón haciendas. In Mayabeque, participants will visit the “El Guayabal” University Farm and the Escaleras de Jaruco Protected Natural Landscape. Other routes in Artemisa will include the La Burgambilia, Tungasuk, and Don David farms. In Pinar del Río, they will visit Rancho San Vicente and the “Las Barrigonas” Parador, along with other local properties.

These visits will provide a close-up look at agroecological projects, community governance models, and experiential tourism experiences that integrate culture, nature, and sustainable development.

Culture, identity, and celebration

The Meeting will also be a celebration of Cuban culture. Activities planned include the television program “Palmas y Cañas,” the traditional “Cañonazo de La Habana,” traditional dinners at iconic venues such as “La Divina Pastora” and “La Cecilia,” and a closing night at the iconic Tropicana Cabaret.

Closing ceremony with a vision for the future

During the official closing ceremony, the “Cuban Declaration of Rural Tourism and Agrotourism 2025” will be presented; the venue for the 11th Meeting will be announced in Guadalupe, Extremadura (Spain); and the transfer of the IBEROATUR pavilion of honor will take place. Closing remarks will be given by Cuban authorities and the Ibero-American Institute of Rural Tourism.

For those interested, registration is still open at www.iberoatur.org and reservations can be made through www.ecotur.travel. The 10th Ibero-American Rural Tourism Meeting will be a unique opportunity to experience Cuba from its roots, share knowledge, and build together the future of rural tourism in Ibero-America.