
TUI Field to Fork in Atlántico
Tourism can be a tool to give recognition to local and traditional knowledge, promote agrobiodiversity, and encourage food culture.
Slow Food Travel Program embraces these values and promotes sustainable local culinary heritage in different continents and countries.
For this reason, Slow Food is part of TUI Field to Fork in Atlántico, a project aiming at integrating the values of agrobiodiversity into the tourism sector to improve the socioeconomic conditions of rural and coastal communities of the Atlántico department, in Colombia.
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The Context
The department of Atlántico is a strategic location in the Colombian Caribbean region. As one of the main maritime ports of the country, it drives both the local and national economy.
Here, the metropolitan area of Barranquilla dominates the economic and tourist landscape, thanks to a variety of coastal attractions and its renowned Carnival, recognized by UNESCO.
Despite a rich agro-biodiversity heritage and the presence of more than 26 gastronomic festivals around the region, the population outside Barranquilla has inadequate access to basic needs, with 46.1% of people experiencing food insecurity. Similarly, as the Barranquilla Carnival increases its international popularity, other cultural traditions and culinary practices lack recognition and investment in tourism promotion and infrastructure. At the same time, eco-friendly practices and efforts to preserve biodiversity receive little attention, posing challenges to environmental sustainability.
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Main Goals
- Strengthening sustainable agricultural practices
We value existing agrifood initiatives and develop agroecological skills and practices in new territories. Moreover, good, clean, and fair producers can be involved in a tourist route.
- Designing and promoting rural tourism experiences focused on agrobiodiversity
We design and manage the experiences together with the community. High school graduates become professional tourist guides, and local businesses build new skills and capacities.
The result is a tourist route, promoted within Slow Food Travel Destinations, with experiences linked with crops, river navigation, dragon fishing, cultural initiatives, cooking, and enjoyment of local dishes.
- Developing alliances with the tourism sector
New partnerships and alliances between farmers, producers, matronxas, cooks, and the lodging and tourist sector help showcase the cultural and culinary heritage of rural Atlántico, boost incomes, and support sustainable development.
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The Partnership
TUI Care Foundation
Slow Food
Sabores & Saberes
Slow Food Comunidad Matronxs del Atlántico Colombiano
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