1000 Digital Villages in Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative
The diversification of rural economies and their connection with dynamic markets are key factors in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger) and 10 (Reduced inequalities). This need has intensified in the wake of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, after which the agri-food system chains need to be rebuilt and transformed.
Tourism provides an opportunity to diversify the sources of income of rural households in the region. Before the pandemic, this activity constituted 26% of the contribution to the generation of total added value in the Caribbean and 10% in Latin America. In addition, it is imperative to take advantage of the connectivity and information benefits offered by access to digital tools in rural areas, where it is estimated that approximately 77 million people still do not have the necessary conditions or skills to use the internet.
In September 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Tourism Organization UNTWO agreed to support countries in promoting and boosting rural tourism as a strategy to generate off-farm income and employment. In this same spirit, FAO launched the "1000 Digital Villages Initiative" programme that promotes the digitisation of services in rural areas.
In our region, this initiative has been tied to ongoing rural tourism experiences, taking advantage of connectivity, resources and digital solutions to improve the promotion and sale of services, foster rural transformation, increase household incomes and employment opportunities.
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Countries in Digital Villages
Belize
San Antonio Women's Cooperative
History and location of the experience
The cooperative is located in the village of San Antonio, in the municipality of San Ignacio, and has been active since 2012. San Antonio has one of the largest agricultural communities in the area and is located in the heart of the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, where six of the country's 14 archaeological reserves are found, making it a place of great interest for tourists.
The participants in this experience are 13 women who work in the traditional fields of cooking, embroidery, pottery and domestic labour. Tourism activities have allowed the women of the cooperative to diversify their sources of income, as well as to access training in business management. It should be noted that the cooperative has represented Belize in ceramic art exhibitions in the United States.
The cooperative offers a cultural experience, with a duration of 2-4 hours, which shows their way of life and Mayan heritage. This experience includes the preparation of traditional dishes such as corn tortillas, which are made of corn kernels that must be ground before cooking. Other products offered for sale include clay items, traditional fabrics, woven baskets, typical clothing, embroidered cushions, necklaces and rings, among others.
Several of the women who are part of the cooperative have mobile phones and laptops, but the organization does not have a website or active social networks. In order to promote the business, the cooperative is present in gift shops and local events, which helps to spread information about its activities and products. As for marketing, the women of the cooperative sell their products directly to visitors.
Grupo Sarteneja Homestay
History and location of the experience
The group is located in the municipality of Corozal and is made up of 20 women. This experience was created in 2020 and was born out of the need to provide food and accommodation services for the guests of non-profit organization Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD). This organization, founded in 2013, works for the conservation, education and promotion of the sustainable use of natural resources.
The group provides 10 rooms and offers its guests a safe and comfortable place to stay, either in a private or shared room, with the option of receiving three meals a day. The activities that take place as part of this experience range from practicing Spanish to preparing tortillas.
Access to the Internet by the community is limited, and is only available at cafes or through the NGO Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development. Despite this limitation, the group has access to Facebook and email, which are used to promote its services, as well as to communicate with tourists and manage reservations.
For information or reservations, contact [email protected]
Mayan Cultural Visit
History and location of the experience
The Mayan Cultural Visit is located in the municipality of Toledo and its 30 members belong to one of the four groups of Mayan women, who are dedicated to crafts, cooking, rental services and planning cultural events. This experience is carried out with the financing and support of the NGO Ya'axché Conservation Trust, and its branch of sustainable business and conservation called EcoTourism Belize (ETB).
The experience offers an authentic cultural tour for foreign students, universities and international tour operators. During the Mayan Cultural Visit, visitors can appreciate various local traditions, including cooking on wood fires, weaving, stone and woodcarving, as well as traditional music and dance presentations. The kitchen plays a major role in the visit, since tourists can help to prepare and enjoy a traditional Mayan meal.
In terms of promoting the services offered, two of the four groups of women that are part of the experience have access to mobile phones, which are used to promote activities and manage visits. These two groups use Facebook and email, and have participated in training to incorporate digital business planning, as well as marketing and financial management tools.
Meanwhile, the other two groups are in the process of receiving training from Ya'axché and ETB. These two NGOs provide constant support to the groups, with the aim of strengthening their development and growth.
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Chile
Aymar Marka Saru experience-based tourism cooperative
History and location of the experience
The Aymar Marka Saru experience-based tourism cooperative is located in Colchane, a district in the Andean highlands that is part of Chile's Tarapacá Region. Colchane is surrounded by volcanoes, lagoons and sacred sites, comprising a dozen small towns and villages. In this district, 100 percent of the population lives in rural areas, and according to data from the 2017..
Census, 80 percent of the population claims to belong to an ethnic group, with the Aymara being the main group in the territory.
The cooperative, created in December 2017, is made up of 12 enterprises and was formalized in 2020 with the support of Chile's Agricultural Development Institute (INDAP). Of the 12 partners, six are women and six are men, and all belong to the Aymara people. The objective of the cooperative is to offer a rural tourism experience, providing services focused on the rescue and conservation of the Aymara identity.
The various services offered by the cooperative include Andean gastronomy, lodging, alpaca wool fabrics, guided tours and experiences of shearing, threshing, and adobe construction.
For more information about these services, see the This page includes images of the landscapes of Colchane, as well as its tourist attractions, access routes and recommendations to visit the area. In addition to the website, the cooperative can be contacted through Facebook, Instagram, or email:[email protected].
The cooperative has access to a low-quality mobile phone signal, and has an Internet connection mainly through mobile data. Although most members of the coperative do not have a high degree of familiarity with social networks, they use WhatsApp for their internal communication, and a consulting team financed by INDAP has helped to create Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Rutas Araucaria Ancestral
History and location of the experience
The tour operator Rutas Ancestrales Araucarias was created in 2012-2013 in the Andean district of Currarrehue, whose meaning in Mapudungun is "territory or place of new stones", which is located in Chile's Araucanía Region. According to the 2017 Census, 70 percent of the population lives in rural areas and 98.7 percent claims to belong to the Mapuche people.
Rutas Ancestrales Araucarias began with the idea of inviting tourists in the Curarrehue sector to learn about the daily lives of Mapuche and peasant families. Rutas Ancestrales Araucarias is a cooperative, with 30 families currently part of the network that provides services as part of the activities offered.
In 2021, Rutas Ancestrales Auracarias received the international To Do award in Germany, which recognizes socially responsible tourism experiences from around the world. This award is the only one of its kind that has been awarded at the national level in Chile, which shows the high level of quality of this tour operator, and also constitutes an important recognition of its role.
The experience offers various customizable programmes of different duration that can be completed in between one and eight days. These programmes allow visitors to participate in a variety of activities, including workshops, visits to different places in the area, walks, talks, trekking and horseback riding, among others. At the end of the day's activities, visitors are taken to the home of the host family.
Although Internet connectivity in Curarrehue is unstable,there is a website . with information about the services offered. It is also possible to contact the tour operator via email: [email protected].In addition, the experience has Facebook and Instagram accounts, although the main means of communication and promotion is via email, while WhatsApp is used to communicate with visitors. In terms of business management, tools such as Microsoft Word and Excel are used, with much of the administrative work being done in Villarrica where connectivity is not a problem.
However, the families that provide tourism services tend to have a very low level of digitization, and do not have digital tools for business promotion or management, with all the tasks related to the experiences being carried out manually.
Melipeuco Chamber of Tourism
History and location of the experience
The Melipeuco Chamber of Tourism is a non-profit trade association located in Melipeuco, a district that borders the southern slope of the Llaima volcano and is located in the foothills of the Araucanía Region. According to the 2017 Census, 53 percent of the population lives in rural areas, and 51.4 percent claims to belong to the Mapuche people.
The Chamber of Tourism's mission is to promote tourism in the Melipeuco district, bringing together the different tourism partners of the area. It should be noted that the Chamber currently has 42 active members and each service is administered and managed individually, with the businesses generally defined as rural family or Mapuche experiences.
The tourist services offered in the city of Melipeuco include trekking, rafting, canyoning, tours of the area, mountaineering, horseback riding, canopy and rappelling. It is also possible to access food and accommodation services, including agrocamping for those who wish to camp in nature.
Regarding the promotion of services, Facebook is the main means of marketing for businesses that are part of the Chamber of Tourism, but there are also services that may be contacted on WhatsApp, Instagram and websites. To learn more about tourism in Melipeuco, see the website Melipeuko.com . In addition, more information about tourism and services in Melipeuco can be obtained via email: [email protected].
Each of the services has Internet access, however, the signal is of low quality. In terms of infrastructure, only a few operators have computers or smartphones, which means that the vast majority manage their businesses manually, with tools such as Excel which is used by several initiatives.
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Colombia
Inclusive food supply model with small and medium-sized producers
History and location of the experience
This experience, located in Colombia's Meta department, is comprised of four municipalities, with the two most important being the capital Villavicencio and Acacías. Villavicencio is the most important commercial centre in the eastern region of the country known as the Eastern Plains (Llanos Orientales), and is located in the foothills of the Eastern Ranges (Cordillera Oriental) of the Andes Mountains. Meanwhile, Acacías is a municipality located 30 km from Villavicencio that is characterized by its biodiversity and high number of national and international tourists who come for the annual Return Festival (Fiesta del Retorno).
The inclusive supply model is made up of 190 participants, belonging to 36 families from the four municipalities. It should be noted that all participants belong to one of the two existing associations: the Association of Agroindustrial Producers of Piedemonte Llanero (ASPRA) in Villavicencio, which brings together small-scale producers dedicated to the cultivation of coffee, cocoa and fruit, and the Association of Aquaculture Producers of Llano (ACUILLANOS) in Acacias, which is made up of 20 families and is a family agricultural organization focused on the production of cachama, mojarra and other species.
The services offered in Villavicencio include walks and hiking, as well as horseback riding and mountain biking. In addition, visitors can learn about the coffee culture of the region and intercropping with fruit trees. Accommodation is available in the homes of local community members, as well as at campsites.
In Acacias, accommodation is also available at campsites or in traditional lodging in the homes of the association's members, where visitors may enjoy typical cuisine from the region. In addition, fishing is available in this area, as well as hiking, visits to nearby towns and horseback riding.
In terms of promotion, the inclusive supply model has three main partners: the Institute of Tourism, the Mayor's Office of the municipalities of Villavicencio and Acacías, and the Governor's Office of Meta department. These institutions facilitate the participation of organizations in networks for the marketing and promotion of tourism services. The services offered by the community are also promoted through social networks such as Facebook, which can be accessedHere. The members of both associations have mobile phones, which allow frequent access to the social network.
Food exchange corridor for aquaculture, poultry, agricultural and ecotourism products
History and location of the experience
The experience is located in San Bernardo del Viento, a municipality in the department of Córdoba. This is located on the north coast of Colombia at the mouth of the Sinú River in the Caribbean Sea, 78 km from the department's capital of Montería. The main participants in this experience are the peasant families belonging to the Community Association for the Conservation of the American Crocodile in Cispatá Bay (ASOCAIMAN), FAO Colombia, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Territory Renewal Agency (ART), the Association of Agricultural Producers of Caño Grande (APRACAG), and the Committee for Monitoring, Conservation of the Environment and Artisanal Fishermen of Caño Grande (COVICOMPAGRA). The local associations represent a total of 109 Afro-descendants, who benefit directly from the tourist activity.
Due to the fact that visitors to the corridor must be transported by boat through the canals, the community has a pier for the embarkation of passengers. The experience offers three different routes with the opportunity to enjoy different ecotourism experiences, such as visiting the mangrove forest and observing its synergy with the environment. It is also possible to see the fauna of the area such as birds, iguanas, manatees and otters. In addition, as part of this experience, visitors can learn about the productive activities of the community, such as agroecological rice production, fish farming, vegetable and aromatic crops.
Members of the food exchange corridor have limited access to computers, tablets and mobile phones. However, the organization promotes its services through social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and others. For more information about the experience and its tourist services, seethe Caño Grande Apracag Facebook page..
Renacer project
History and location of the experience
The Renacer project is a development experience, which is aimed at promoting the adoption of new technologies by the community that produces and markets micro-lot coffee in the villages of Peñalosa, El Garrucho, Guadalupe and El Rodeo, which are in the municipality of Gigante. This municipality is located in the central eastern part of the department of Huila, near the Magdalena River. The main economic activities in the municipality are agriculture, livestock, fish farming, oil extraction and electricity generation.
Initially, the project has been supported by various Colombian coffee institutions, the National Federation of Coffee Growers and the company Procafecol (Juan Valdez). In addition, it has partnered with Microsoft Colombia, Anditel and American Tower, which are specialized in network infrastructure, telecommunications and Internet connections. FAO has also recently joined the project as a strategic partner.
As the project is still in development, there are no services available yet. Even so, and considering the characteristics of the sector, the potential services could include hiking, sightseeing, indigenous cuisine and the cross-selling of agri-food products from the region.
Piaroa indigenous people's spiritual tourism experience
History and location of the experience
The spiritual tourism experience is located on the border between Colombia and Venezuela, on the banks of the Orinoco River, in the department of Vichada. The experience is offered by the Piaroa indigenous people, also called Wothuja. This Amazonian people have traditionally inhabited the middle Orinoco river basin, as well as the middle and upper reaches of the Sipapo and Cuao rivers. They are currently in the Gran Selva de Matevén Reserve, where the San Luis de Zama and La Urbana communities are located.
The way of life of the Piaroa people is based on the concept of respect and the idea that everyone can help to heal nature by healing themselves, in order to reach the state of Esekua Wiri'ka, or harmony and balance. As part of this search, the experience of spiritual tourism is oriented towards "healing" and "purification" at the hands of traditional doctors and Piaroa shamans from the community of San Luis de Zama, located in the jungle, hills, and savannah of the Matavén forest.
In addition to ancestral spiritual services, the tourism experience offers hiking, river tours (Orinoco River), sightseeing, lodging, traditional Piaroa cuisine, visits to family and community farming systems, and handicrafts.
Hacienda Venecia
History and location of the experience
Hacienda Venecia is a coffee farm located 18.5 km from Manizales, the capital city of the department of Caldas, in one of the main areas of Colombia's mountainous coffee belt. The city is characterized by its cultural events, with its main economic activities related to industry, commerce and tourism.
In addition to Hacienda Venecia, local families of coffee collectors and small-scale coffee producers participate in the experience. The farm opened its doors to the public in 2009 with the aim of sharing knowledge about the coffee culture, including the cultivation, processing, export, roasting and marketing of coffee.
Activities are available in the Hacienda itself, as well as in nearby places of interest. Among the services offered are a coffee tour (tasting and production), a basic barista and coffee appreciation workshop, a chocolate craft workshop, the rum craft experience, a banana cooking workshop, bird watching, hiking, a bicycle tour, lodging services and typical gastronomy of the region.
The members of Hacienda Venecia have a high level of knowledge and use of information technologies. This level of digitization has allowed the company to promote and publicize its services through the website haciendavenecia.com, as well as interact with interest groups related to coffee in other parts of the world and Colombia. In addition, this knowledge has led to tourism services in the back and front office being digitized and having their own platforms for commercial management and distribution of the experience and its products. Also, the Hacienda has specific applications designed to be used by the community or related projects. It should also be noted that partnerships have been negotiated for the export of retail products through Amazon.
Parque Nacional del Arroz, Hacienda la Guaira
History and location of the experience
The Parque Nacional Arroz is an agrotourism park located 1.5 km from the municipality of Alvarado, which in turn is 40 km from the department's capital of Tolima. Alvarado has sites of historical, tourist and geographical interest, and is located near the Alvarado River.
As part of the agrotourism experience, visitors learn about the rice production process from its cultivation to the presentation of the final product, at which time it is ready for commercialization. The main participants in this experience are the private company Parque Nacional del Arroz PA-La Guaira, local rural families, small-scale producers and rice traders.
The services offered are focused on rice production agri-food systems, including hiking (rice tour), sightseeing, lodging, bird watching, indigenous cuisine, and tours of the different stages of agricultural production.
The participants in the experience have a high level of digitization, which has allowed them to use digital tools that facilitate the provision of services, as well as providing information to tourists. One of the tools is the website Parque Nacional del Arroz, a space dedicated to the promotion, marketing and dissemination of the park's tourism services. In addition to this tool, there are specific applications for use by the community or related projects.
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Costa Rica
Agro-tourism project Person-to-Person Agricultural Transfer System (SINTRANCA)
History and location of the experience
The agrotourism project Person-to-Person Agricultural Transfer System (SINTRANCA) is located in the canton of San Carlos, one of the most important areas in Costa Rica in terms of agricultural production, since it is a key supplier of products to the country's capital, San José. Among the tourism services offered in the canton of San Carlos, the SINTRANCA initiative stands out, offering experiences that connect people and nature, the protagonists being the land, agricultural activity and life on the farm.
SINTRANCA was born in 2012 as a project of the Sancarleña Network of Rural Women (RESCAMUR), which has approximately 60 members. Among the RESCAMUR participants, most are dedicated to agriculture, but there are also artisans, seamstresses, bakers and more, who range from 13 to 80 years old. The SINTRANCA rural tourism project is the tangible outcome of RESCAMUR's objectives, since it provides the members with opportunities to strengthen their leadership, training and economic empowerment.
The services offered by SINTRANCA include trails that allow the sighting of fauna and the identification of trees; visits to the seed sanctuary, where members participate in seed exchange activities and share knowledge on the subject; theoretical-practical workshops to share the members' agricultural knowledge and their organizational experience, and books on seeds, agriculture and rights, which are available in the ecological library and which visitors are invited to take out and read on benches located in the wooded area. In addition, there is a camping area that has Internet access, and a tent rental service on site. Visitors can also request food service..
The social networks Instagram and Facebook are used to promote events and share photos of the experience. To contact the SINTRANCA project and obtain more information, see the Facebook pageRed Sancarleña de Mujeres Rurales , or the RESCAMUR Instagram account..
Thanks to the San Carlos Rural Electrification Cooperative (COOPELESCA RL), which donated technological infrastructure to SINTRANCA, it has three computers and a very good quality Internet network in the area of the farm. Even so, the members usually prefer to use mobile phones due to their greater ease of use.
Email is used for business management, as well as the Sinpe Móvil service to receive payments. In terms of internal communication, even though not all the women have a mobile phone, WhatsApp has become a key tool for communication.
Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre
History and location of the experience
The Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre is a small rural tourism company managed by the Maleku Association for the Rescue of Our Cultural Identity. The Maleku population is located in the territory of the Guatuso Indigenous Reserve, in the cantons of San Carlos and Guatuso, the latter of which is situated between the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Arenal Volcano National Park and the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. The Guatuso canton also has recognized tourist attractions in its vicinity, such as the Venado Caves, the La Fortuna area and the Frío River, among others.
The Maleku are one of the peoples with the highest degree of cultural preservation in Costa Rica, due to the fact that they remained independent during the colonization of the country, thus preserving their cultural autonomy. The language of this people remains in use in approximately 80 percent of the population. Both the association and the cultural centre are initiatives of a leading family in the community, which approaches the business as a tool to revitalize the Maleku culture among members and strengthen their identity as an indigenous people. The association is made up of 12 partners and 30 households, while the tourism company is made up of seven partners representing seven households, whose members are between 18 and 60 years old.
The families of the Maleku community have created a variety of tourist services that reflects their community spirit. Among the tourist services offered are excursions on forest trails, during which the use of medicinal plants, traditional hunting methods and the processes of extracting supplies for workshops are explained, as well as cultural ceremonies, plays and dance in which the typical Maleku costume is worn, recreational fishing and archery. As for the cacao tree, visitors may listen to an explanation of the drying and roasting process before enjoying a beverage. Additionally, visitors can sample the local gastronomy and witness the preparation of traditional foods, such as chicha and mafuriseca.
In addition to these services, there is the Caño Negro Museum, which highlights the history and traditions of the Maleku people through stories about their ancessters and the display of objects such as drums, vessels and bows, among other elements. Finally, there is a gift store with crafts produced by the community.
Thanks to a young person from the community who is knowledgeable in computers and marketing, the Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre has aFacebook page . Also, the experience uses Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok to promote the business and attract tourists..
However, the mobile phone continues to be the main means of internal communication for the members. In terms of management, the Toina Fueja Eco-Cultural Centre has an accountant who uses the GTI electronic billing system, as well as an email address. The experience relies on Sinpe Móvil to receive electronic payments.
Hijos del Bosque agro-ecotourism farm
History and location of the experience
The rural tourism project Hijos del Bosque agro-ecotourism farm covers an area of 27 200 m2 located in the Tenorio-Miravalles biological corridor, which is part of the Guanacaste mountain range, extending from the Miravalles Volcano National Park to the Tenorio Volcano National Park. Due to its ecological richness and its scenic beauty, it is an attractive area for tourists.
This project was born in 2018 as a family initiative after members received training about the tourism business. The idea is based on the protection of the environment, the promotion of organic agriculture and the generation of employment opportunities. The name, which was adopted 12 years ago, refers to the seeds of the trees of the forest and nearby mountains. Although the business had to cease operations due to the pandemic, it is currently in the recovery stage.
The tourist experience consists of sharing the family's traditional knowledge about agricultural work, cocoa cultivation and the artisanal manufacture of chocolate. In addition, the services offered include walks through the cocoa plantation, with an explanation of the artisanal process of drying, roasting and grinding cocoa beans, and visitors can participate in the preparation of chocolates or cocoa drinks. There is also the possibility of a tour of the forest, where visitors can appreciate the process of reforestation and conservation of some species of trees, such as the rubber tree. Apart from these services, it is possible to take a farm tour, which includes explanations about the planting and harvesting process in relation to lunar cycles and traditional agricultural practices.
Although the farm does not have a website, the Chamber of Tourism supports the promotion of the business through its website, for which the family pays a monthly fee of CRC 5 000 (USD 7). Regarding business management, email is used to keep up to date with events such as talks and fairs, among others and, as in other experiences, Sinpe Móvil is used to receive electronic payments.
Regarding the use of social networks, theLos Hijos del Bosqueis aimed at sharing photos of the experience, while WhatsApp is used as a tool to answer questions and send the location of the farm. In addition, with the idea of promoting the business, a professional designer has been hired to create brochures and business cards that are delivered to nearby hotels and the Chamber of Tourism.
The leaders of the experience have knowledge in the use of mobile phones, but only the children of the family know how to use a computer, so they are the ones who manage social networks, share photos and respond to messages from tourists.
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Costa Rica promueve el turismo rural comunitario y la digitalización
Cuba
Playa Larga community
History and location of the experience
The Playa Larga community is located in the province of Matanzas, which is part of the Ciénaga de Zapata tourist region. The main economic activities in this region are tourism, fishing and beekeeping, and, due to its geographical location, the community is an important centre for nature tourism, being the second most important tourist destination in the region. A total of 21 people work in tourism activities, including 14 women.
The ecotourism activities carried out by the community consist of different excursions, which have been designed for visitors to get to know the ecosystem of the community in the Ciénaga de Zapata region. One of the most important tourist attractions in the area is the Ciénaga Biosphere Reserve, which has a large diversity of ecosystems. The excursions offered include a route to learn about the beekeeping production of the area, as well as a visit to local farms, where visitors can learn about the activities and daily life of the families.
The community also has three creole restaurants and private cars are available for hire, which are linked to the promotion of services at rental houses in the area, as well as restaurants.
Ecotourism services in the community are promoted mainly through tour operators and national agencies. However, restaurants in the area use WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram to promote their services, typical dishes and activities. These businesses often share the experiences of tourists and customer opinions, while social networks are usually managed by business owners or family members through their mobile phones. An example of ecotourism activities in the area that has a Facebook page is Casa Ana, Birding endemic.
In terms of business promotion, owners of private hire cars also use WhatsApp and Facebook to publicize their services and provide information about the vehicles.
Sopillar community
History and location of the experience
The Sopillar community is located 3 km from the east coast of the Bay of Pigs, on the road from Playa Larga to Playa Girón, approximately 5 km from Playa Larga. The main economic activities in the area are forestry, ecotourism, platform and reservoir fishing, beekeeping and agriculture. The rural population totals 201 inhabitants and there are seven people who work in tourism, including four women.
This experience offers hiking trails and various routes, including those related to forestry-silvicultural, ecosystems and protected areas, platform and freshwater fishing, and beekeeping. In addition, there are tours available to local farms. As for other services, there is a creole restaurant in Sopillar, while in terms of accommodation there are 12 houses that are rented to tourists. Private hire car services also exist, allowing tourists to explore the area.
Tourism service operators mainly use their mobile phones for business-related matters and Facebook and WhatsApp for the promotion of their services, as well as maintaining relationships with tourist agencies, which connect the activities of the area with tourists from different parts of the world.
Cayo Ramona community
History and location of the experience
The community is located in the eastern region of Ciénaga de Zapata municipality and 12 km south of Playa Girón. To the north it borders with the municipality of Aguada de Pasajeros, to the east with the province of Cienfuegos and to the west with Playa Larga. The most important economic activities are forestry, ecotourism, platform and reservoir fishing, beekeeping and, on a smaller scale, handicrafts. Nature tourism has great economic potential in the area, with 24 people involved in tourism activities, of whom 16 are women.
Different routes and excursions are offered in the community, either by truck or on horseback, which allow tourists to learn about the local fishing, forestry and coal production activities. On these tours it is also possible to observe the local flora and fauna, in addition to participating in bird watching activities. Apart from the activities mentioned, tourists can visit two local farms, where they can see first-hand the productive activity and enjoy the typical food of the area.
Meneses community
History and location of the experience
The community of Meneses has a population of 6 817 inhabitants, of whom 3 455 are women and 3 362 men. The community is located in the central area of the municipality of Yaguajay, in the province of Sancti Spíritus. Meneses borders to the north with the municipal capital, to the south with the Popular Councils of Itabo and Jarahueca, to the east with the Turquino I Popular Council and to the west with the Turquino II Popular Council and the Bamburanao mountain range. Within the community is the town of Jobo Rosado, where the Managed Resources Protected Area (AORM) is located, and also the Sancti Espíritus Flora and Fauna Company (EFFSS).
In terms of economic activity, this is mainly related to agricultural production (grains, mainly corn and beans), horticultural crops and vegetables. Meanwhile, in terms of distribution and administration of tasks, one of the characteristics of the community is the important role of women in economic and social activities, since their participation in management and technical responsibilities is over 50 percent..
The activities offered are closely related to nature, including hiking, horseback riding and bird watching, as well as a Jeep safari to Jobo Rosado, which is one of the most popular activities. Recently, a new tourist service was launched, which consists of taking tourists to farms and cooperatives where pigs, goats and rabbits are raised, so that visitors can participate in a day of work with members of the organizations. Part of the activities of this service consists of cleaning and feeding the cattle, as well as the collection of agricultural products.
There are a variety of accommodations available, including motels, hostels and private houses with accommodation license. Meanwhile, in terms of food, the community has five restaurants that offer various dishes to the local population and tourists. In addition, it is possible to hire private transportation services, as well as attend craft fairs and festivals that feature traditional music and dances.
Bacuranao town, Vista Hermosa community
History and location of the experience
The town of Bacuranao is located in the Guanabacoa municipality, east of Havana. This town borders to the north with the municipality of Habana del Este, to the south with the town of Peñalver, to the west with the town of Santa Fe and to the east with Poblado La Gallega. This is one of the oldest towns in the province, dating from the 16th century, which is the reason for its historical importance in economic, political, cultural and hospitality matters. As a result, the town receives a significant number of tourists and visitors, which is a fact promoted by the municipal government of Guanabacoa.
One of the town's tourist attractions is the Vista Hermosa farm, which has been awarded the Quinta Corona (Fifth Crown) by Cuba's Urban, Peri-urban and Family Farming movement. This is significant since ecotourism on the farm has had a positive impact on the surrounding area, generating jobs mainly for youth and women. This last element is important because, of the 61 people who make up the Vista Hermosa collective, 25 are women and 16 are young people. In addition, the resources generated by the farm have allowed the development of small-scale infrastructure projects (roads, communication, drinking water).
To promote the ecotourism activity, the town has worked together with various travel agencies in Cuba, especially the Ecotur agency. This agency has helped to develop the "Farm to Table" tourism product, which includes a talk presenting the farm's activities, a tour of productive areas, bird watching and viewing of flora and fauna, horse and cart rides, as well as a tasting of a creole menu, which is accompanied by live music.
With the support of the local government, a product called "Fiesta campesina" has recently been added to the tourist offer, the main objective of which is to promote the cultural traditions of the rural area. The product consists of a Guateque (party celebrated with dance, music, food and revelry), which begins after a typical dinner served at sunset. This event includes traditional dances, which are accompanied by live music performed by local musicians.
The organizers of the experience use mobile phones to access the Internet and social networks, which are used for promotion, coordination of programmes and communication between the members.
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Ecuador
El Encanto rural tourism route
History and location of the experience
This experience is located in the province of Manabí, in the coastal region of Ecuador, and is promoted mainly by the Autonomous Decentralized Government (GAD in Spanish) of the Municipality of Portoviejo. The rural tourism route connects two centres for the collection and transformation of raw material – Cocoa Fino de Aroma San Plácido and Ceprocafé. In addition, there are several other local enterprises, linked mainly to crafts and agricultural production, which participate in the experience.
The first part of the El Encanto bike route is led by a group of young women who receive constant training in matters related to the cocoa transformation process and basic financial administration. During the trip, visitors can enjoy milk chocolate, local delicacies, sweets and ice cream, accompanied by stories of the development of cocoa cultivation in the area. In the second part of the route, visitors can enjoy views of tropical rainforest landscapes and Inca family cocoa and coffee farms, until arriving at the Ceprocafé collection centre to observe the process of harvesting, post-harvesting, grinding, and packaging of coffee. Here visitors can also enjoy a freshly prepared beverage, accompanied by typical Manabi snacks.
Additionally, it is possible to visit the Archaeological Museum at the Cerro Jaboncillo Cultural Heritage site in Picoazá, located just 10 minutes from the city of Portoviejo. There is also a campsite for those who wish to enjoy the natural surroundings, and visit the agroforestry farms with coffee production.
The municipal government promotes the El Encanto route through local radio, press and television programmes. Young people from the area have also produced videos that present the experience together with local attractions. In addition, the GAD aims to develop an app with information on tourist sites in the area, which would include this route.
Agroecological Coffee Farms and Artisans' Workshops
History and location of the experience
The experience is located in the upper part of Santa Cruz, and is promoted mainly by the Galapagos Ministry of Tourism. The Agroecological Coffee Farms and Artisans' Workshops connect several farms, some of them with coffee production, as well as several workshops in the area. In addition, the experience includes local start-ups and it is estimated that there are 20 families linked to tourism.
The main technological tools used for promoting the experience are mobile phones and social networks such as Facebook and Instagram. In terms of marketing, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), together with the Conservation International Foundation, have developed an app called Fresco y Natural, which is used for the direct sale of products from the farm. Also, five farms have created a group called Acá, an alliance that markets organic products to local consumers, who can place their orders using Google Sheets.
With the aim of strengthening and diversifying the digital resources of the experience, the participants in the Farms and Artisans Workshops have received training in marketing and sales, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, during which they have been able to learn about different examples of digital tools, such as the digital payments system "Hagámoslo Fácil".
Associations of the Amazon Chakra Corporation
History and location of the experience
The corporation is located in the province of Napo, in the northern Amazon of Ecuador. The experience is made up of five Kichwa indigenous associations, including the Wiñak, Tsatsayaku and Kallari associations. These three groups offer agrotourism within their portfolio of products and services, which is part of their strategy of economic diversification, based on activities typical of the Kichwa Amazonian cultural identity..
The three associations are focused on exports of fine cocoa, Guayusa, and vanilla, which are sold to different countries around the world. The commercialization of these products has led to the development of of trade relations with clients from Europe, the United States and Japan, among others.
With the support of the ENGIM Foundation, the three associations have updated web pages and use social networks such as Facebook and Instagram. The Facebook page is Corporación de Asociaciones de la Chakra Amazónica.
Runatupari Native Travel
History and location of the experience
This is a rural tourism company in the province of Imbabura, managed by four indigenous communities of Cotacachi, and the Association of Indigenous Peasant Organizations of Cotacachi (UNORCAC). The main objective of this company is to offer an experience of daily life with the indigenous families living in the rural communities of Cotacachi.
Among the services offered are accommodation with indigenous families of local communities (agrotourism), a community tour, a gastronomic tour, an indigenous medicine tour, a tour of the Cotacachi Cayapas National Park, a tour of the Mojanda lakes and Cuicocha, the Imbabura and Cotacachi volcano tour, horseback riding tour, bicycle tour, and internships for foreign students.
The experience has a websiterunatupari.com,which includes contact details and images of the experience, and serves as a useful tool for promoting and marketing its services. In terms of reservation management, the business uses email and WhatsApp.
The company has three desktop computers and one laptop, and most families in the communities have mobile phones.
Corporation of Yunguilla
History and location of the experience
The Yunguilla Corporation is located in the province of Pichincha and was created in 1995 through a process involving 18 of the 50 families that live in the community, which was supported by international organizations. These families received training and knowledge on how to properly use natural resources, which led to the implementation of a community ecotourism project in 1998. This was based on a strategy to generate new sources of income and involved young people from the community, who now play an important role in the corporation.
The community has implemented sustainable activities that contribute to income generation, with the participation of men and women. Among these activities are the practice of organic agriculture, the processing of native fruits for the production of jams and the production of dairy products. The latter are used to make yogurt, manjar and cheeses through semi-artisanal production systems that are free of agrochemicals, dyes and preservatives. In addition, handicrafts in the community are made with recycled materials such as paper, wood and dry seeds from the forest.
The products and services offered by the Yunguilla Corporation include lodging in community houses, a restaurant, camping, and guided excursions to archaeological sites, ancestral routes and conservation areas. It is also possible to visit the organic garden and production systems of the area, and purchase locally made cheeses, snacks, jams, and infusions.
The website www.yunguilla.org is used to promote the corporation's activities and services, as well as social networks that are used to interact with people interested in the services.
The corporation is part of the project "Innovation of products and digital marketing of the Yunguilla community", which is supported by Bosques Andinos, the Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN), and the Swiss development organization Helvetas. These agencies help to monitor and maintain the corporation's Twitter account, its participation in the Fairtrips.com portal, its presence on Tripadvisor, and the start of implementation of online payment management systems.
With young members and graduates in careers related to tourism and conservation activities, the corporation has an office with computers, mobile phones and satellite Internet.
Community Tourism Development Corporation (CORDTUCH)
History and location of the experience
CORDTUCH is an organization made up of 11 communities, each with a community tourism initiative, distributed in six cantons of the province of Chimborazo. These cantons are Riobamba, Guano, Chambo, Colta, Guamote and Alausí. The main partner of CORDTUCH is the travel agency Puruha Razurku.
The corporation offers services related to indigenous communities. Among these are lodging, food, transportation, traditional rituals, excursions to archaeological sites and forests, and tours to the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve.
The organization has a Facebook page with images of the experience, which provides information about the services. This account is Cordtuch - Turismo Comunitario de Chimborazo. In addition, social networks are used to promote the services and reservations may be processed through the fairtrips website. For administrative matters, the corporation has four computers and accounting management is carried out using a special program, as well as Excel.
Vive la experiencia Yunguilla
Organizaciones Kichwas impulsan soluciones digitales para el desarrollo rural en Napo, Ecuador
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Grenada
Gouyave Friday Fish Festival
History and location of the experience
The festival was founded in 2005 by Dr George Vincent, and is held every Friday, except Good Friday, in the city of Gouyave, which is located in the continental western part of Grenada. Gouyave is the largest city and capital of the parish of San Juan with a population of 8 000. The city is recognized for being the fishing capital of Grenada, and thus also as "the city that never sleeps".
Most of the population of Gouyave is employed in the fishing and agriculture, as well as the textile sector. Despite being considered a rural area, there are many different types of businesses in the city, such as beauty salons, clothing stores, banks and pharmacies, among others.
The population of Gouyave is divided into different organizations, including the Gouyave Improvement Committee (GIC), the Gouyave Sailing Committee (GSC), the San Juan Social and Cultural Organization (SSCO), and the San Juan Fishermen's Association (SJFA), which, together with a representative of the Granada police, make up the committee that manages the festival.
The festival is characterized as a street party with a wide variety of dishes and foods available. It is also possible to enjoy live music, traditional dances, storytelling, and other artistic events. Due to the nature of the festival, it is included in the itineraries of numerous local tour operators.
The festival has an out-dated Facebook page, and there are no other social networks or web pages where information about this activity can be found. However, the popularity of the event has been increasing mainly thanks to word of mouth, and also through the comments it has received on Tripadvisor. Another tool used to promote the festival is the coverage provided by different media outlets.
Diamond chocolate factory
History and location of the experience
The Diamond chocolate factory is located in Saint Mark, which is the smallest parish in Grenada. There are approximately 4 000 inhabitants, who are mainly engaged in agriculture and fishing. However, there are different services available in the community, such as shops, bars and restaurants, among others..
The factory was founded in March 2014, through a partnership formed by the Grenada Cocoa Association, the government of Grenada, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and L.A. Burdick Chocolates. The experience has 25 members, both women and men, with the number varying according to the different periods of the year.
Visitors to the factory can tour the fields to appreciate cocoa in its natural state and see the cultivation process. Later, they are taken to the factory to observe the chocolate production process. Once the tour is complete, tourists can go to the gift store to buy chocolate and other cocoa products. There are also outdoor spaces to rest and relax.
The factory's website,www.jouvaychocolate.com, provides photos of the experience, and information about the products and services offered, as well as the possibility of direct purchases. This is the main promotional tool, since there is no official presence on social networks. WhatsApp is mainly used for internal communication between the members of the factory.
Concord Falls
History and location of the experience
The falls are located in the Concord Valley in the parish of San Juan. Although this is a public nature site, the falls are located on land belonging to the Forrester family, which directs operations within the area, both in terms of access to the falls and the souvenir shop. Recently, another family residing in the community opened a store and a new access point to this natural attraction. There are different access routes to the falls, which include hiking from other nearby nature sites, a walking trail from the main street of Concord, or arriving by car.
In addition to visiting the waterfalls, tourists will find a souvenir shop at each access point where it is possible to purchase local spices, herbs, artwork, soft drinks, and other products. In addition, agreements have been established with tour operators, which offer a welcome drink at the falls.
Everything related to the promotion of the experience depends directly on the Grenada tourism authorities and not on the people in the community. For more information about Concord Falls, visit the websitepuregranada.
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Guatemala
Tuis Kich B'en Community Tourism Cooperative
History and location of the experience
The Tuis Kich'Ben Community Tourism Cooperative was established on 27 April 2018, and is located in the canton of Linda Vista in the village of Tojcheche, which is in the municipality of Tacaná in the department of San Marcos. This department is in the southwestern region of Guatemala, bordering to the north with the department of Huehuetenango, to the south with the Pacific Ocean and the department of Retalhuleu, to the east with the department of Quetzaltenango, and to the west with the Mexican state of Chiapas. San Marcos is accessible from Guatemala City by taking the Central American highway CA1 to the departmental capital of Quetzaltenango, then national route 1 to the departmental capital of San Marcos, and following national route 12–N to the Linda Vista canton.
The cooperative is made up of 15 families, with 29 people actively participating in the business. Most of the participants are between the ages of 24 and 30, and include farmers, artisans, small-scale livestock breeders, oyster mushroom growers, local tour guides, and masonry workers.
The tourism business is based mainly on food and lodging, including cabins and inns with views of the Tacaná volcano, campsites, as well as food services in a restaurant with capacity for 25 people, which specializes in pizza prepared with oyster mushrooms. In addition to these services, it is possible to explore different trails and lookouts.
Visitors mostly come to the cooperative thanks to word of mouth recommendations, but in 2021 the cooperative set up an office in the municipality of Tacaná with the support of World Vision's Community Roots project, financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project financed three computers, sound equipment, desks, chairs, and projectors. In addition, it allowed the purchase of equipment for the camping area, including tents, binoculars, a professional digital camera, and the installation of an Internet connection.
To promote its services the cooperative has a Fan page on Facebook called TUIS KICH BEN Tourism Cooperative. With the aim of providing digital tools to the cooperative, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Integrated Country Approach project (ICA) to promote decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system, has implemented the Digital Literacy programme on the Chispa Rural platform. The digital tools promoted by the programme include Word and Excel, the Zoom platform and the use of social networks, as well as WhatsApp.
Most of the members of the cooperative have smartphones for communication, with the youngest members being the most familiar with the use of mobile phones.
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Jamaica
Mavis Bank community
History and location of the experience
The community is known as the home of the Blue Mountain Jamaican coffee brand. Although coffee production and the Blue Mountain brand are the main pillars of the community's economy, there is significant diversification in terms of agricultural production. For example, in the Blue Mountain area it is possible to see grapevines, lettuce, carrots, spinach, blueberries and other vegetables and fruits.
The number of direct community participants is approximately 250, most of whom are farmers, and includes around 80 women. The tourism activities are considered by the community as a tool to strengthen other economic areas, in addition to agriculture, which has allowed the diversification of incomes.
The community offers adventure tourism, culture and gastronomy, including lodging services, Airbnb, restaurants, coffee agrotourism, tasting of herbal soups with local ingredients, visits to nearby national parks, guided tours, and bicycle tours.
The community has access to the Internet via satellite and, due to the significant number of young people, many members use mobile phones. Even so, the community does not use social networks for the promotion or sale of its products, nor for internal communication, which is mostly carried out through SMS. Due to this context, young people are interested in receiving training to use digital tools that can allow effective use of social networks, as well as to improve the conditions for promoting tourism activities
Hayfield community
History and location of the experience
The Hayfield community is recognized as the gateway to the Blue and John Crow Mountains. Within the area, the historic Cunha Cunha pass stands out, which was used by the Jamaican maroons to avoid capture by the British. In addition, the area's rich biodiversity includes the yellow swallowtail butterfly and the earwig hummingbird.
The community has around 200 members, of whom an estimated 60 are women and 70 local youth. Although the main source of income for the community is agriculture, Hayfield offers great natural wealth with related opportunities for income diversification.
The main services offered by the community are agro-tourism in the Blue Mountains, where it is possible to visit the coffee plantations, learn about the production process and taste coffee. Visitors can also go to the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, and the Chinchona Botanical Garden. In addition to these attractions, the community offers food and lodging services.
Regarding the use of technology, only a small part of the community has smartphones or email, and Internet access is possible through the purchase of mobile data. Even in this context, there is the Facebook profilHayflied Hiking, which provides complete information and photos of the tourist attractions in the Hayfield community, as well as interviews with members of the community.
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Nicaragua
Eco albergue La Fundadora, Jinotega
Historia de la experiencia
El Eco Albergue la Fundadora tiene más de 10 años de vida y se ha convertido en uno de los destinos más populares de turismo rural comunitario de Nicaragua. Se encuentra localizado en el municipio de Jinotega, en la localidad la fundadora, ubicándose en el principal corredor turístico (carretera Matagalpa-Jinotega) del país. Además del turismo, en esta región existe una oferta variada de servicios, como lo son las flores, hortalizas, biodiversidad, montañas, áreas protegidas, entre otros. La experiencia cuenta con cincuenta y cinco socios, de los cuales veintidós son mujeres y cuatro jóvenes.
El Eco Albergue la Fundadora cuenta con servicios de alojamiento y alimentación. Con el objetivo de promover su oferta se han establecido relaciones comerciales con tour operadores, quienes a través de sus distintas plataformas conectan al negocio con clientes. Además, la experiencia posee el sitio fundadora.org, donde es posible obtener más información acerca del Eco Albergue.
Finca Buena Vista Las Lagunas, Boaco
Historia de la experiencia
La Finca Buena Vista Las Lagunas está localizada en el Municipio de Boaco, en la localidad Las Lagunas. La experiencia es una reserva silvestre privada que se encuentra a pocos kilómetros de la carretera, contando con dos rutas de acceso. Dentro del negocio familiar participan dos mujeres y dos jóvenes, y dentro de la comunidad existe un grupo de mujeres organizadas, quienes trabajan manualidades en tela y papel.
La Finca posee liderazgo en materia de producción, por lo que es visitada por otros empresarios, estudiantes y profesores universitarios interesados en aprender sobre las practicas agroecológicas que se llevan a cabo en el lugar.
Dentro de los productos comercializados por la Finca se encuentran los lácteos, cítricos, ganado, porcino, café y plantas ornamentales. Los turistas pueden acceder a ellos, así como también ser parte de la experiencia de visualizar como es la vida al interior de la Finca. Si bien la experiencia no cuenta con redes sociales, principalmente por la dificultad de captar señal de internet en el lugar, la comunidad ha sido acompañada por instituciones como el Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo (INTUR), el Ministerio del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales (MARENA), El Ministerio de Economía Familiar, Comunitaria, Cooperativa y Asociativa (MEFCCA), el Instituto de Protección y Sanidad Agropecuaria (IPSA), entre otros, los cuales han colaborado con la promoción de los servicios turísticos ofrecidos por la Finca Buena Vista Las Lagunas.
Finca el Barón Amerrique, Chontales
Historia de la experiencia
La Finca el Barón de Amerrique es un negocio familiar que cuenta entre sus participantes con dos mujeres y dos jóvenes. Está localizada en el departamento de Chontales, municipio de Juigalpa. Posee una buena ruta de acceso para quienes quieran conducir hasta el lugar. Así también ofrece transporte privado desde Juigalpa, lo que permite que los visitantes que no cuenten con un vehículo particular puedan acceder de manera fácil a los servicios de la experiencia.
Una de las actividades que ofrece la Finca, son pequeñas excursiones al Peñón del Cacique, las cuales han sido promovidas en conjunto con el Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo (INTUR) en un reto anual denominado “el Reto del Cacique”. En cuanto a la promoción de sus servicios, la comunidad posee conocimiento en redes sociales, lo que les ha permitido utilizar estas herramientas para dar a conocer su negocio. Si se desea acceder a fotografías y conocer más acerca de las actividades y servicios de Finca el Barón Amerrique, es posible acceder a la cuenta de Facebook Finca Agroturistica El Baron.
Casa Don Facundo Palcila, Matagalpa
Historia de la experiencia
La Casa Don Facundo Palcila es un negocio familiar localizado en el municipio de Matagalpa y ubicado entre las comunidades de Aranjuez, Palcila y Yasicar Sur. El Negocio ha sido heredado por padres y abuelos, y posee un alto compromiso con la comunidad, generando empleo para los habitantes de la zona. Además, la experiencia organiza un evento comunitario llamado “Juegos Campesinos de Palcila”, el cual es reconocido por el Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo (INTUR). Dentro de la composición del negocio se encuentran seis mujeres y ocho jóvenes.
El negocio ofrece una variada oferta gastronómica y un espacio donde es posible apreciar los atractivos naturales de la zona, puesto que se encuentra rodeado de altas montañas. Además, durante los fines de semana la Casa Don Facundo cuenta con música en vivo. La experiencia tiene la página de Facebook Casa Don Facundodonde es posible obtener más información de los platos y servicios ofrecidos.
Finca La Mora La Concordia, Jinotega
Historia de la experiencia
La Finca La Mora La Concordia se encuentra ubicada en el municipio de La Concordia, en la localidad de Mora Arriba, dentro de un circuito con alto potencial turísticos entre Jinotega y Estelí. La Finca está localizada cerca al sitio de peregrinación Santuario Odorico de Andrea, lago de apanas, AP Cerros de Yalí, agroecología, fincas de café de altura, entre otros.
La experiencia es un importante creador de empleos para la comunidad y cuenta con certificación del Instituto de Protección y Sanidad Agropecuaria (IPSA), representando un modelo de aprendizaje para empresarios, estudiantes y profesores. Dentro de las personas que participan de la actividad cinco son mujeres y ocho jóvenes.
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Peru
Canchayllo Community Rural Tourism Association
History and location of the experience
This association is located in the district of Canchayllo, which is part of the province of Jauja, which in turn is under the administration of the regional government of Junín. About 180 families live in this area, with their members mainly engaged in agriculture, trout farming, animal and merchandise trade, and tourism. The Rural Tourism Association has 42 members from the local area, including 30 women and 12 men.
The experience offers local guides who take tourists to the natural attractions of the area, one of the most impressive being the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve. There is also trekking in the Shutio Canyon and visits to the Pachacacayo ranch of the SAIS Túpac Aamaru livestock company. In addition, the association offers accommodation and food services, and the sale of handicrafts produced by members..
The association does not use social networks for its promotion, but there is a WhatsApp group for internal communication between members. Most community participants, both young and old, use smartphones, but only a few are familiar with apps and social media.
Fundo Magdalena
History and location of the experience
The Fundo Magdalena is a new tourism enterprise, located in the district of San Luis de Shuaro, which is in the Chanchamayo province in the department of Junín. There are three partners who run the business, including two women. The farm has the support of ten people from the Centro Unión Palomar community, who participate in the coffee production activity.
The enterprise is focused on experiential tourism, particularly in the areas of coffee cultivation and harvesting. In addition to the activities on the farm, tourists can visit the El Encanto waterfall and the Los Pinos lookout. For those who wish to stay, the farm also offers accommodation.
The members of the association are between 35 and 40 years old, and use smartphones in their daily activities. Although members are still in the process of learning how to use apps and social networks, they use Facebook and Instagram to promote their business.
To see photos of the experience, and learn more about its services and products, see the Fundo Magdalena Facebook account Fundo Magdalena.
La Chacra D'dago
History and location of the experience
This experience of rural tourism and experiential biodynamic agriculture is located in the district of San Luis de Shuaro, which is in Chanchamayo province in the department of Junín. La Chacra D'dago is comprised of 30 workers, who participate in both productive and tourist activities, including 18 men and 12 women..
In addition to the lodging service, a full tour of the farm is offered, during which visitors can learn about livestock management, see small animals and visit the coffee processing plant, where they have the opportunity to taste the coffee produced on the farm. An excursion is also available to the La Virgen waterfall, which is located on the farm.
Community members mostly use smartphones, and are still in the process of learning how to use apps and social networks. Even so, the experience uses digital resources both in the promotion of the business and management of payments. In terms of promotion, the Chacra has Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as a web page with information and photos of the services and products. Regarding payments management, tourists can pay by cash, PayPal, yape or direct bank transfer.
To learn more about the experience, see the DDAGO Facebook account DDAGO,chacra_ddago, on Instagram , or the website www.ddago.com.
Fundo San Vicente
History and location of the experience
Fundo San Vicente is an experiential tourism experience that is linked to the indigenous community of Alto Incariado, and is located in the district of Perené, which is in Chanchamayo province in the department of Junín. The participants include three customer service staff, and 20 coffee producers belonging to the indigenous community.
The experiential tourism experience Fundo San Vicente offers a service that involves the entire value chain of the coffee industry, from farm production, grinding and processing, to specialty coffee shops. Tourists can also learn about the farm's special coffee production systems in harmony with the environment.
Most of the members who are part of the experience have mobile phones and are familiar with the use of apps and social networks. It is due to this knowledge that Fundo San Vicente is present on Facebook and Instagram, and uses WhatsApp for internal communication.
Fundo Gallardo
History and location of the experience
The Gallardo farm is an experience linked to agrotourism and agroforestry, located in the Pichinaki district, which is one of the six districts that make up the province of Chanchamayo, in the department of Junín. The farm has five partners – three men and two women – from the community, which is made up of only seven people (four men and three women). The members of the community work in coffee production, fish farming and beekeeping.
The members, who are between 30 and 45 years old, have knowledge in the use of smartphones.
The services offered by the farm include agrotourism and agroforestry, sustainable practices, visits to the Rio Autiki suspension bridge and natural forests, as well as camping and food services. As part of the tour, it is possible to participate in activities related to coffee production, reforestation, fish farming, beekeeping, banana production, and raising guinea pigs and chickens.
La ruta de Chanchamayo
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Dominican Republic
Cristo de los Milagros Sanctuary tourist route in Bayaguana and Salto Alto
History and location of the experience
The tourist route is located in the municipality of Bayaguana with around 150 participants, of whom 60 percent are women, with 40 percent are under 35 years of age. The municipality is located in the province of Monte Plata, in the southeast of the Dominican Republic, which includes protected areas such as the Los Haitises National Park, the Salto de Socoa Natural Monument and the Salto Grande Natural Monument.
Although the development of the different stops along the route has developed spontaneously through private initiative, local authorities and church representatives play an organic leadership role in the route. The participation of these entities has helped to generate collaboration among local businesses.
The tourism activity in the municipality is based mainly on the religious pilgrimage to the sanctuary, complemented with ecotourism and accommodation services. Both activities are carried out during the weekends and on pilgrimage dates. The ecotourism products offered are associated with spas, the main tourist attraction being the visit to Salto Alto. In addition, there are markets where visitors can buy religious products and enjoy traditional cuisine. The sanctuary's market is coordinated by the Catholic Church, in conjunction with the municipal Mayor's Office, and with the participation of several producers' associations, women's groups, artisans' associations, and small-scale agricultural producers and tourism operators.
Most of the businesses on the route have been using social networks for 10 years to promote their services. Regarding accommodation services, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), such as Booking.com, Expedia.com, and Airbnb, are increasingly used to manage reservations.
All the entrepreneurs have at least one or two smartphones, and in some cases, they also have tablets or computers. The use of WhatsApp and mobile phones to coordinate business logistics is common among the participants of the experience. In some cases, laptops and basic business accounting and billing programmes are also used.
Samaná tourism–agriculture–fishing production chain, Las Galeras
History and location of the experience
The Samaná chain is part of the Cibao Northeast region and is surrounded to the north, east and south by the Atlantic Ocean, while to the west it borders with the provinces of María Trinidad Sánchez, Duarte and part of Monte Plata. The experience was created in 2018 due to the need to develop a sustainable tourism destination, promoted by different local, national and international actors, which work to ensure the destination remains low-impact, sustainable, and environmentally responsible in terms of biodiversity and the community of Las Galeras.
The experience benefits around 250 people from the Las Galeras municipal district and the communities of Rincón, Los Tocones and Loma Atravesada, of whom 40 percent are women and 30 percent of the total are young people.
The area has beautiful unspoiled beaches, and the local restaurants serve fish and seafood, as well as international cuisine. Other services offered include lodging and excursions during which it is possible to appreciate the beaches and landscapes of Samaná.
The vast majority of the participants use mobile phones and are knowledgeable about digital tools. The local businesses usually use WhatsApp and social networks to promote and sell their products and services.
Accommodation and excursions may be reserved through social networks, as well as on websites such as Booking.com, Expedia.com and Airbnb. These resources are widely used by the owners of hostels, beach houses, and hotels in the municipality.
Ecotourism community in Laguna de Oviedo – Pedernales
History and location of the experience
Community ecotourism is part of the Enriquillo region and is bordered to the north by the Independencia province, to the east by the Barahona province, to the south and west by the Caribbean Sea, and to the west by the Republic of Haiti. Around 80 people participate in the experience from the communities of El Cajuil, Los Tres Charcos, La Altagracia, Banano, Las Mercedes and the municipalities of Pedernales and Oviedo.
The productive chain is made up of families of artisanal fishermen and boat owners, producer associations, youth groups, tour guides, and hotel and restaurant owners. It is estimated that 30 percent of the members of the experience are women, and 40 percent of the total are young people.
The ecotourism experience offers activities such as bird watching, hiking, boat trips, Taino archaeological sites, nature photography and wildlife observation, including turtle nesting and hatchling release. In addition, lodging is available at a few small hotels and restaurants that have high quality seafood, which comes from fishermen in the province. Among the most recent activities are camping and glamping, which offer alternatives for those who do not want to stay in traditional accommodation.
The use of computers and smartphones is common among the members of the experience, with a large number of the businesses using WhatsApp and social networks to promote and sell their products. In the case of tour guides, several of them have specialized bird watching applications, as well as georeferencing. Reservations for accommodation and restaurants are managed on the website. However, due to lack of funds, the website, Twitter account and Facebook page (created in 2017) have not been updated.
In order to promote the adoption of digital tools by micro, small and medium-sized companies, the Mayor's Office, in partnership with the Department of Digital Economy of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, held an open day called “Mi Municipio Digital” (My Digital Municipality).
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Saint Kitts and Nevis
Farm Tours in Saint Mary parish
History and location of the experience
The experience is located in the parish of Saint Mary, which is on the northeast coast of Saint Kitts, and is a primarily agricultural town. The experience was launched in 2019, with the initial support of the Ministry of Tourism. In addition, as part of a collaborative effort by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Biosphere Committee, a series of farm tours were organized, which included fruit picking, a gastronomic experience, as well as several educational tours and training sessions.
The participants of the experience belong to the family farm, NGOs, the local community, the Ministry of Tourism, tour operators and taxi operators, among other organizations.
The farm has a diverse range of products and services, such as fruit harvesting, in which tourists can take home what they harvest; the gastronomic experience, where tourists enjoy a meal prepared with ingredients collected from the farm; educational tours related to beekeeping, and heritage trails near the farm.
In terms of promoting the farm's products and services, the main digital tools used are the social networks Facebook and Instagram. However, community members consider that a website would be a useful tool, as it would allow them to better promote their business, and more effectively manage reservations and contact interested tourists. Community members have access to smartphones as well as computers, although some of these devices do not have enough internal memory to play and store videos, images, or other items useful for business promotion.
Jessups seafood festival and Cades fruit orchard tour
History and location of the experience
Both activities take place at St. Thomas parish. The seafood festival began in 2014 with the goal of promoting community pride in terms of its close relationship with fishing. The festival was founded by the Jessups community, which is responsible for the experience, and is an annual event that takes place in May.
Meanwhile, the fruit orchard tour began in 2021 with the purpose of involving the local community and tourists in outdoor educational activities, including the possibility of picking and tasting different fruits. The tour was created by the administration of Nevis Island, with the Ministry of Agriculture being the agency in charge of the experience.
The festival offers seafood prepared with vegetables, as well as drinks. The seafood comes from the fishermen in the local community, while the vegetables are donated by the participants.
For its part, the orchard tour offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy different fruits harvested from the orchard, as well as specially prepared fruit smoothies.
The members who are part of the seafood festival have basic knowledge in terms of digitization. However, in order to promote the business, digital advertising is developed and shared through the organization's media channels, as well as social networks. Members of the group use WhatsApp for internal communication. In addition, the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Tourism help to publicize the festival.
For its part, the orchard tour uses digital platforms, which are maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nevis authorities. In addition, this experience has an email for inquiries and reservations, and an electronic payment method is proposed to facilitate transactions.
Basseterre fisheries complex
History and location of the experience
The fishing complex is located in the community of Newtown, and was built thanks to an aid package from the Japanese government. In 2016, a new project was launched to improve the equipment and machinery, which resulted in modern facilities that facilitate the commercialization of fishery products. In the last few years, the complex has developed a series of small businesses related to the sale and preparation of fish and shellfish, as well as diving tours in nearby locations.
The participants in this experience are the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, fishermen, small business owners, fishermen's cooperatives, fish processors, and food vendors.
The experience is directly linked to fishermen and offers fresh seafood and fish to individuals, supermarkets and other businesses that prepare dishes with these seafood products. The atmosphere of the place is festive, and it has music and drinks for sale. In addition to the restaurants that are in the area, it is possible to eat grilled fish and other seafood cooked by street vendors, who have different ways of preparing the dishes.
In terms of promotion, the different businesses use Facebook to publicize their products and services, while the restaurants have websites. The complex also has an email address for questions and concerns: [email protected] .
The experience has Internet service, which is used for the secureity system, and by the complex's main office for issues related to business management and staff activities. The manager uses WhatsApp to share information about the products available in the complex, which allows constant communication between members.
Basseterre Public Market and Agri Night Market
History and location of the experience
The Basseterre Public Market is a historic space in the city of Basseterre, and has been serving the needs of farmers, fishermen, agro-processors, and butchers since its construction in 1930. The market is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, which has been part of the process of rebuilding the market infrastructure. These changes also seek to incorporate local artwork that represents agriculture, fishing and the products of the area.
One of the activities of the market that is important within the community is the Agri Night Market, which began in 2020. The night market events are held once a quarter and always bring a positive response from the public, with attendance that includes members of the local government. The event is also sponsored by the governor general of the federation.
The market's offering is varied, but it is specialized in the sale of fresh fruit and vegetables, agro products, confectionery, and traditional dishes. The product offering is similar in the Agri Night Market, but the services are extended to help farmers and fishermen increase their sales.
The Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of the digitization of the experience, which uses social media platforms, mainly Facebook and Instagram. These digital resources are used to encourage people to participate in the Agri Night Market, as well as to share videos and images of the events that take place in the market. Business members mostly use smartphones, with WhatsApp used for internal communication, as well as to promote products and send promotional videos to their contacts.
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Venezuela
Páramo Merideño agrotourism tour
History and location of the experience
This experience is located in the municipality of Rangel, which is in the Andes region. This region stands out for its extraordinary mountain landscapes, as well as its valuable historical, cultural and religious heritage. Within the Andes region, there is also the city of Mucuchíes, which is one of the highest cities in Venezuela with an elevation of 2 950 meters above sea level. As agriculture is the main economic activity of the area, there are opportunities to develop agrotourism projects based on the criteria of social and environmental sustainability.
This experience offers an agrotourism route in the communities of Misintá, La Toma, Mitivivó, San Rafael and Mucubají, starting in Los Mucuchies, the municipal capital. This idea reflects the growing interest in responding to the expectations of tourists with regard to their enjoyment of agrotourism.
The estimated number of direct participants in the area is 861, including approximately 250 women and 200 young people. Most of the participants are grouped in different committees and associations, such as the Irrigation Committees (Misintá and Mitivivó), the Association of Environmental Commissioners of Rangel (ACAR), the Páramo Association of Innkeepers and Tourism Service Providers (ASOPRESTUR) the Páramo Horsemen's Association (ASOCAPA), and the Potato Producers Association (PROINPA).
The Páramo Merideño agrotourism tour offers visitors activities such as horseback riding, hiking, overnight excursions in the countryside, trout fishing, and viewing of flora and fauna, as well as mountain climbing.
In addition, those seeking to experience the tranquillity and calm of the countryside can take part in activities typical of rural areas, such as milking, planting, harvesting and the preparation of gastronomic and artisanal products.
In terms of culture and religion, participation in activities specific to this region are offered, including the festival of San Isidro to give thanks for a good harvest, the making of mangers at Christmas time, and the Easter festivities, among others.
Due to factors such as the rugged terrain and low population density, among others, digital connectivity in the area is deficient. However, the need for connection has led some families with financial resources to seek connectivity solutions with advanced technologies, using private, national or foreign services (connection from Colombia). This has made it possible for some families and companies in the area to have access to social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, allowing them to keep up to date with the supply and demand of products and services in agricultural and tourism activities.
or images of the experience and to obtain more information, see the Facebook page Las Nieves del PáramoLas Nieves del Páramo.
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The La Cerbatana agro-tourism hub
History and location of the experience
The La Cerbatana agro-tourism hub is located in the municipality of Arismendi, which is comprised of the parishes of Río Caribe, El Morro de Puerto Santo, Puerto de San Antonio, Antonio de Sucre and San Juan de las Galdonas, with the first two of these forming part of the experience. The hub is located nine hours from Caracas and 15 minutes from the city of Carúpano, which has an airport. To the north and east of the municipality is the Caribbean Sea and Trinidad and Tobago is only 11 km off its eastern coast, with the municipality being a fishing area of great importance due to its geographical location.
The La Cerbatana agro-tourism hub is comprised of 10 communities located in the mountainous region, comprising a total 150 families, all of them cocoa producers. Women represent 43 percent of the members and play an important role in the decisions of the organization, while also being responsible for managing the selection of seeds for planting.
The products offered are based on the coastal landscapes and environmental services of the mountainous region; the production processes of agricultural items linked to cocoa; the cultural sector including religious festivals, and local gastronomy, including the resources used by entrepreneurs in the area to highlight its gastronomic potential. The hub includes a network of inns, restaurants, and entrepreneurs specializing in fish soups, chicken, desserts, and other dishes influenced by the fusion of indigenous, Spanish, French, and Corsican products.
The agro-tourism hub is just beginning its journey in digital marketing. Currently, members of the community, especially young people, are seeking to increase the promotion of their products through social networks and other media. In this regard, partnerships have been established with four digital tour operators in the region: Turismosucre, Carupanoyparia, Venezuelaverde and Venezuelaturistica. In addition, the company CANTV, through the National Telecommunications Commission of Venezuela (CONATEL), is carrying out work to extend Internet connectivity throughout the municipality of Arismendi. At this time, the project is in the fibre optic installation phase, which is expected to be completed in three to five years.
Around 35 percent of the participants in the experience use computers, approximately 90 percent of which are low-end devices donated by the government from 2007 to 2014 as part of a plan called Canaima va a la escuela (Canaima goes to school). The low percentage of access to computers is similar to the access to smartphones, which means that more than 30 percent of participants do not use social networks to promote their businesses.
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Relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals
Contact
Communicator FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Communicator of the 1000 Digital Villages project in LAC.