Bocas del Toro’s Geotourism Initiative was launched last month with over 50 in attendance. Solimar International hosted a two day workshop for Bocas del Toro community members and business owners to collaborate and join together in adopting Geotourism as a tourism development strategy.

This Geotourism initiative was introduced as part of the USAID Conservation of Central American Watershed Program. Established to ensure a sustainable future for Bocas the program intends to create a Destination Management Organization (DMO), form a sustainable tourism alliance and council, and implement new business practices with a more ecological and sustainable approach.

Juan Luna-Kelser, a tourism professor from George Washington University introduced and presented the geotourism concept and it’s foreseen benefits for Bocas. This concept was established by National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations as type of tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place. Along with the presentation, the workshops facilitated direct linkages by connecting the private sector to the community-based tourism groups within the Bocas region. These links led to discussion of the development of demand-driven packages to help transform Bocas del Toro into a geotourism destination. The attendance of University of Miami students provided direct tourist feedback and assisted in sparking the Bocas del Toro nominations “Favorite Place” and “Four Perfect Days”, which are currently underway. .

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