Cuban tourism minister calls to build tourism: “From the countryside, for the countryside, and with the countryside”

“It is no longer enough to do tourism in the countryside; we must build tourism from the countryside, for the countryside, and with the countryside.” With these words, Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García Granda closed the 10th Ibero-American Meeting on Rural Tourism and Agrotourism, which brought together experts, authorities and representatives from more than 10 countries for a week.

The closing ceremony, held at the Tropicana cabaret, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, along with the Ministers of Tourism, Agriculture, and Higher Education, the President of the Ibero-American Institute of Rural Tourism (IBEROATUR), Humberto López Tirone, and the Mayor of Extremadura, Elizabeth Martín Declara, along with executives and specialists from the national and international tourism sector.

During the ceremony, a message was delivered by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, who congratulated the delegates and highlighted the priority the government awards rural development and agrotourism, as part of the national sustainability policy.

In his speech, García Granda thanked IBEROATUR for its confidence in choosing Cuba as the host country and highlighted the role of rural tourism in economic diversification and the preservation of cultural identity.

IBEROATUR President Humberto López Tirone celebrated the tenth anniversary of the meeting and highlighted the positive impact it has had on Cuban rural communities. “We know that this step has motivated many farmers to take an interest in rural tourism. Some were unable to attend, but others had the courage not to abandon Cuba,” he noted.

One of the key moments was the adoption of the Havana 2025 Declaration, signed by the participating countries, which defines 10 commitments to strengthen cooperation, technological innovation, and the sustainability of rural tourism in the region.

Representing Spain, Mayor Elizabeth Martín Declara announced that the next edition of the meeting will be held in Cáceres, from November 9 to 15, 2026, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and innovation in Ibero-American rural destinations.

During the event, the delegations toured Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana, where they learned about agrotourism experiences, local entrepreneurship, and community development projects. These exchanges, the organizers noted, strengthen the work promoting rural tourism in Cuba and throughout the Ibero-American region.

The closing ceremony included a performance by La Colmenita and the presentation of a painting featuring the hummingbird and the Cuban flag, along with a statuette representing the Tropicana, to the IBEROATUR president.

By reading the Cuban Declaration on Rural Tourism and Agrotourism, the participants reiterated their commitment to continue promoting a sustainable, inclusive, and distinctive development model.