López-Tirone: “Cuban agrotourism has immeasurable wealth”

A few hours before the start of the 10th Ibero-American Meeting on Rural Tourism and Agrotourism, which will open at the Botanical Gardens of Havana on September 30, the President of the Ibero-American Institute of Rural Tourism, Humberto López-Tirone, shared his expectations for this event, which will extend to several locations in western Cuba.

“For more than a decade, we have been helping Latin American and Ibero-American countries that have welcomed us to build entrepreneurship in rural areas, that is agrotourism. Our expectations are to consolidate work tools, a product for Cuba to offer,” he said upon his arrival at José Martí International Airport.

The president of Iberoatur highlighted the unique potential of agrotourism in the Caribbean country. “Cuba’s agrotourism has immeasurable wealth, hidden in the mountains, in rural areas. We’re going to go out not only sharing experiences and lessons, but also learning from what we’re about to experience.”

López-Tirone, who has previously toured rural areas of the archipelago, assured that the international participants will be impressed by the progress made: “My colleagues at Iberoatur and those who will come from abroad will be amazed at what Cuba has achieved by creating a product for entrepreneurs in rural areas.”

He also emphasized the role of rural tourism in the transformative vision of the leisure industry. “Rural tourism contributes completely to creating sustainable tourism. We are precisely in the places where knowledge, resources and nature exist. I believe we are the bastions of the fight to defend fauna and flora.”

The representative referred to the alignment of agrotourism with global goals: “I believe agrotourism is exactly what UN Tourism is seeking, so we are on the right path. It’s just that we are only just landing.”

During a stop on the way to the hotel, López Tirone paid tribute to Omar Torrijos, a Panamanian leader of peasant origin, in whom he said he finds inspiration for agrotourism as a tool and method of development.

This 10th Ibero-American Meeting will bring together experts, entrepreneurs and authorities from across the region to exchange experiences, strengthen collaborative networks, and promote sustainable development in rural areas.

The delegates will tour tourist destinations in the western part of the country related to this type of travel, as well as private estates in Pinar del Río, Mayabeque, Artemisa and Havana. The initial sessions begin with lectures and exchanges at prominent academic centers such as the University of Havana and the Agrarian University of Havana.

The Ecotur Travel Agency is organizing the event.