Camagüey, March 30.- At least thirteen Camagüey farms have the essential conditions to become a tourism product in the short, medium or long term, as evaluated by a group of experts from the Camagüey Rural Tourism project.
The initiative emerged in June 2023 as part of the provincial strategic line to boost the country's economy. On May 19 of the same year, a national innovation council led by the President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, had agreed that each territory would study possible heritage resources linked to rurality that could be exploited for tourism purposes.
Several organizations are involved in the direction, organization and financing of the project, including the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) and the Tourism Training Center (Formatur). After identifying potential sites and the different modalities of rural tourism for which they could be useful, training is offered to workers and they are certified as a hygienic and safe tourism product. Only then can the offers be marketed using travel agencies.
Germán Martínez, Camagüey Rural Tourism specialist, highlights that you only have to suggest a detail to the farm staff and when you return, they have fulfilled it. Sometimes they even give a better suggestion, because we brainstorm to achieve the goal together; in this process, learning and doing work as a team.
The Local Development Center of the Municipal Government is in charge of managing and approving each proposal, as well as regulating that everything is in accordance with the law, and reviewing the budget and priorities. Its director, José Antonio Castiñeira Castro, director of the center, clarifies that it is not only about promoting tourism, but about gaining efficiency and complying with the strategic line of food production. Planting will not stop on these farms.
“For example, one of the institutions aims to offer agroecological gastronomic products, without contaminating chemicals. The production of natural fertilizers on site and even the sale of these is a potential opportunity.”
Castiñeira tells us about an important alliance: “The Center for Tourism Studies (Cemtur) of the University of Camagüey offers us training and scientific and professional guidance and other valuable collaborations.”
Gabriela Colón, from 4th. year of Architecture at the University of Camagüey, is an expression of that bond. She never imagined that she would carry out her study completion exercise with this theme: “My pre-employment connection is related to tourism. Gersón Herrera, director of Cemtur, suggested that I do this work together with another colleague. We play the role of planners, in charge of designing the infrastructure of the places according to the assigned budget and other factors.”
The young women selected the La Liliana farm, located on the road to Santa Cruz del Sur. “I want to work here,” Gabriela said to herself, upon discovering these places: “The most interesting thing is the forest. It has uncatalogued flora and fauna and it is unknown how these species arrived in the area. We plan to exploit that area for hiking, camping and research tourism. In addition, there are several hectares of crops for the development of agrosilvopasture.”
The place will also be home to a project for feeding celiac children, since the owner Liliana Bacallao González has been promoting productions there for people with such a diagnosis for some time.
Now they will have a permanent headquarters that will also be attractive. At the moment there is a lot of work left. Five buildings will be built to guarantee accommodation, activities, gastronomy and the reception of visitors.
In addition, there is great interest in creating an information center dedicated to scientific tourism and research.
"I have learned a lot. My partner and I are very motivated. In the race we hope to work on modern designs. We almost despise vernacular architecture and building with rustic means. La Liliana shows us that, to progress, we must return to the origin,” says Gabriela.
Las Delicias is one of the farms that develops agroecology. The beauty of the place undoubtedly constitutes a huge attraction. Likewise, the varied gastronomic offers and contact with nature favor its choice as a tourist destination.
Sport fishing, competitions and boat trips provide an authentic and enriching experience. They combine rural life with recreational options and the essence of rural culture.
Its owner, José Fernández Betancourt, stated that to date the farm has a playground, a mini zoo with exotic animals, accommodation services with vernacular-style cabins and a swimming pool.
We dream of expanding the offers to the population with a nightclub and restaurants throughout the place, he pointed out.
All food is produced in the institution. They do not use chemical products in planting; They protect crops by surrounding them with insecticidal trees. This means a plus for its gastronomic offers.
Sites like this recognize peasant life and agriculture as sources of cultural wealth. Opening the doors of the agrotourism farms will allow the world to experience life in the Cuban countryside up close, an opportunity to show the accumulation of years of rural traditions. (Text and photos: Adelante Digital)
