Development of agroturism and ecotourism in …siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLACREGTOPSUSTOU/Resources/...1 Development of agroturism and ecotourism in Colombia: a partnership Corporation

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Development of agroturism andecotourism in Colombia: a partnership

Corporation for Agroturism andSustainable Ecotourism –

AGROECOTUR and

Private reserve foundation – ResNatur

• Established in 2003

•Supported since 2002 by GEF Regional and Integrated Silvopastoral Approaches toEcosystem Management project as a resultof study tour in Italy and Spain –agroturism network

•Mission: Culturally and environmentallysustainable social and economicdevelopment of rural families offeringtourism services as complementary to theiragricultural, forestry, artisan, and/orenvironmental production activities

Agroecotur

Corporación Colombiana para el Agroturismo y Ecoturismo Sostenible-AGROECOTUR

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A brief history

• Statutes since 2003, revised in 2006 (Agrotur/Agroecotur)

• Organized various conferences andexchange trips with key stakeholders

– 2003, seminar with 120 participants– 2004, pilot visit to participating farms– 2005, 2006 and 2007 – presentations on agro

and ecotourism to Ministry of Tourism– 2006, opens its own tourism agency in coffee

region• 2007 developing marketing effort

– Webpage: www.agroecotur.orgCorporación Colombiana para el Agroturismo y Ecoturismo Sostenible-

AGROECOTUR

Agroecotur offers 6 agro and ecoturism packagesplus 20 natural reserve destinations in 4 ecoregions: Andean mountains, Amazon, Orinoco Basin and Caribbean.

Guests can stay in one of the following:• Natural reserves• Agroturist/ production farms• Artisanal/peasant rural homes• Vacation homes


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ResNatur

• Colombian NGO, initially supported by WWF and TNC• Mission: support private conservation initiatives (reserves

and civil society PAs), seeking the consolidation of social networks and alternative development models with increased equity

• Over 400 private reserve members• Established partnership with Agroecotur to offer combined

services

Agroecotur’s Guiding Principles• Connectivity with local

markets• Complementarity with

biodiversity conservation• Multi-culturalism• Equity• Sustainability• Quality• Transparency• Rural asset building (social

capital)• Partnerships with traditional

tourism operators


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Ecotourism and agrotoursismdestinations

Leticia -Colombian Amazon

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Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta –Northern coastal region


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Darien Gap –Chocó and Antioquia



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Coffee Region


Tolima –Municipalities of Ibague and

Cajamarca


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Our people are your hosts



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Lodging facilities


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Tourism activities


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How Agroecotur develops options:

• Valuation of tourist attractionsand options

• Travel in the region for aninventory of complementaryservices

• Train partners/support to legal establishment

• Design travel circuits andpackages from beginning to end


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Results in 2007

• Offer specialized tourism packages (4 – 6 days)• Technical training tours for producers in

sustainable cattleranching and sustainablecoffee production

• All promotional materials are out and being publicized

• Registered facilities are operational and receiving tourists


Impact on Agroecotur members

• Diversification of income generation• Pride and increased value of rural assets• Rural/urban cultural exchange• Urban spending in rural areas• More diverse career options for younger

generation• Increased awareness of the value of biodiversity

conservation for rural developmentCorporación Colombiana para el Agroturismo y Ecoturismo Sostenible-

AGROECOTUR

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Challenges/ Needs

• Resources for small rural producers to improvetheir facilities for receving tourists

• Lack of capacity in training for tourism operationand services

• Support in cooperative development andcollaborative partnership building

• Marketing and sales – need for upscaling efforts, as it has been slow to tap demand

• Quality control program implementation


Documents

Development of agroturism and ecotourism in …siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLACREGTOPSUSTOU/Resources/...1 Development of agroturism and ecotourism in Colombia: a partnership Corporation