10th Ibero-American Meeting on Rural Tourism and Agrotourism begins in Havana

Cuba reiterated its commitment to a sustainable, inclusive, and a resilient community development model, also in tourism, during the inauguration of the 10th Ibero-American Meeting on Rural Tourism and Agrotourism, hosted by the National Botanical Gardens.

“We are united by the conviction that rural tourism is a powerful way to revitalize territories, preserve identities, and generate decent opportunities for our communities,” said Deputy Minister of Tourism Yamily Aldama, welcoming the more than 100 national and international participants.

“In a world facing unprecedented environmental, social, and economic challenges, rural tourism emerges as an intelligent and humane response, allowing us to reconnect with the land, value ancestral knowledge, and foster circular economies that respect the rhythms of nature and people’s aspirations,” she added.

The deputy minister referred to the extraordinary possibilities offered by new information and communications technologies to enhance this travel modality, through digital platforms that connect travelers with authentic experiences, as well as their usefulness as smart management tools to improve the efficiency and sustainability of rural enterprises.

Meanwhile, Humberto López-Tirone, president of the Ibero-American Rural Tourism Institute (Iberoatur), emphasized that this is not just another meeting. “It’s an experience aimed at ensuring that this extraordinarily rich rural area could be incorporated into that great dream, not only of strengthening rural tourism, but also agrotourism.”

López-Tirone recalled the origins of this type of meeting, which began with entrepreneurs from Extremadura, Spain. “For us, it was important to raise our voices in defense of rural territories and the offers we had in Latin America in this regard. A decade has passed, and we are truly proud of the work we have all done, not only entrepreneurs but also stakeholders in rural tourism and agrotourism, as well as government agencies in each country where it has been held. The important thing is that it has left a mark,” he emphasized. The Iberoatur president reiterated the organization’s commitment to developing a tourism option that, in the case of Cuba, “will allow for a different range of entrepreneurs in the face of the crisis.”

On considering rural tourism as a tool for community empowerment, the event also features a carefully designed scientific program that will address topics such as the digitalization of rural tourism, artificial intelligence applied to territorial promotion, local capacity building, and the use of data for strategic decision-making.

Researchers, professionals, and community leaders will share their knowledge and experiences during these Ibero-American dialogue sessions, which include direct interaction on agrotourism farms in western Cuba.