FAO is providing specialized technical assistance, and supporting the integration of Nicaragua in the global “1000 Digital Villages initiative”, through the project Entrepreneurship of Rural Women and Youth in Agrotourism. This project is designed to strengthen the capacities and local initiatives of actors from the agrotourism sector, including cooperatives, public institutions, entrepreneurs and tour operators, among others, to promote sustainable rural tourism and digitalization.

Global 1000 Digital Villages Initiative seeks to promote the integration of agriculture and rural territories into the digital age. In the case of the Latin American and Caribbean region, this initiative has been launched based on ongoing rural tourism experiences, taking advantage of connectivity, resources and digital solutions to improve the promotion and sale of services, promote rural transformation, increase household income and employment opportunities.

The Nicaraguan agrotourism proposals that will be part of “1000 Digital Villages” are integrated in initiatives promoted by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR); the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA); the Ministry of Family, Community, Cooperative and Associative Economy (MEFCCA); the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (TELCOR), and the Secretariat of Creativity and the Orange Economy, which consider the importance of strengthening sustainable tourism development, including localities with environmental, social, economic and cultural importance, as well as connectivity and infrastructure capacity.

Nicaragua has high potential for the development of its agrotourism services, but like other countries, it faces enormous challenges not only linked to the restrictions imposed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, but also related to improving the coverage of services, their linkages with the different public programmes that are available to the population, and promoting access to opportunities for private companies, among others.

In this context, through specialized technical assistance, FAO supports the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, plans and projects, as well as the mobilization of resources and investments to develop agrotourism services.

Iván León, the FAO Representative in Nicaragua, stated: “The Nicaraguan rural environment offers diverse opportunities for the integral development of its communities. Agrotourism is an excellent alternative for individuals in these communities, who can diversify their income, and at the same time offer tourists integrated and healthy recreational alternatives. With this initiative, we seek to strengthen local agrotourism services through digitalization.”

Process to join the initiative

There are 14 countries within the “1000 Digital Villages” initiative at the regional level. Nicaragua is one of the countries that have recently joined and are following the steps of the process, guided by the FAO regional team.

Currently, a study is being carried out at the village level to determine the potential for digital development and to improve the agrotourism proposal. Based on the results of the study, five communities in Nicaragua will be integrated into the initiative, which will be strengthened to enhance their agrotourism services using digital tools.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the “1000 Digital Villages” initiative is promoting connectivity, resources and digital solutions so that thousands of people can improve their services, employment opportunities and income.