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Rural Tourism Fair
Fería de Turismo Rural
January 31, 2004
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MEXICO
-- More than 200 people attended the 2004 Rural Tourism
Fair (Fería de Turismo Rural) on January 31st. This was
the fourth annual fair in Oaxaca co-hosted by the Planeta
website, Instituto
Amigos del Sol and the state tourism office, SEDETUR.
The fair showcased cultural and natural diversity in rural Mexico.
The event took place January 31st at Instituto
Amigos del Sol in Oaxaca City. Entrance was free and the
fair was open to all.
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ABOUT THE FAIR
A small festival among friends, the fair brought together
local travel providers, community leaders, media, government
officials and tourists for a few magical hours. The fair demonstrated
the alternatives travelers have in exploring Mexico's rural
countryside.
Exhibitors included a mix of businesses, artisans, government
agencies and environmental groups: Amigos del Sol, Bicicletas
Pedro Martinez, Bioplaneta, Casa Arnel, Casa Cerro Sagrados,
Centro para la Biodiversidad Sierra Norte, Destinos Naturales,
Estudios Rurales y Aesoria Campesina, Industrialilizadores Agricolas
Shaya, Instituto Tonantzin Tlalli, Ixtlan ecotourism committee,
La Gran Montaña, Planeta.com, Productas Lacteos Emma
Garcia Sanchez, SEDETUR, Sierra Viva, Taller Casa Jimenez, Tierra
Incognita and the Welte Institute. Featured artisans included
the Bautista and Martinez families from Teotitlán del Valle
and the Ramirez family from Arrazola.
The event was financed by the exhibitors. The budget was less
than 2,000 pesos ($200 US) used to produce brochures and buy
tamales.
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BACKGROUND
WHAT IS RURAL TOURISM? -- This alternative to traditional
mass tourism allows travelers to visit areas outside of urban
areas. Options include hiking and biking, visiting community
museums and buying artesania. Mexico considers rural tourism
a vital part in its promotion of "alternative travel"
which includes ecotourism and adventure travel.
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WHY A RURAL TOURISM FAIR? -- In 2002 the Los Angeles
Times published a feature about how 9/11 impacted rural communities
whose economies depend on tourism. James Smith and Ken Ellingwood's
article -- Sept.
11 Leaves Carpet Loomers Idle in Oaxacan Town -- prompted
us to think of new ways to raise awareness about rural travel.
WHAT IS PLANETA'S INVOLVEMENT? -- The 2004 Rural Tourism
Fair continues our support of entertaining and educational events,
including 2003's Rural
Tourism Fair, 2002's Ecotourism
Fair and 2001's Alternative
Tourism Open House.
WHAT'S NEXT? -- In 2004 Planeta.com is updating features
highlighting organic markets, ecolodges, crafts and forestry.
Thanks to the fair, we updated a global collection of rural
tourism case studies |
GRACIAS
In town thanks go to local businesses, including Amate Books,
Ambidextro,
Casa Arnel,
Graffiata
and La Brew. Online special thanks to the Mexican
Conservation Learning Network (IMAC), The
Mexico Network, Ecoclub,
Green-travel,
Mexicanwave,
The Pacific Coast
of Mexico, Thorn
Tree, Mexico
Connect, Development
Gateway, Manos
de Oaxaca and Visit
Mexico for promoting this event.
Sharing information distributed at the fair were Amtave, Transitions
Abroad, Pronatura Yucatan and Kumarían Press.
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CALENDAR
December - Planeación
January 28 - Reunión de expositores, Amigos del
Sol, 14:00-15:30 horas
January 31 - Fería, Amigos del Sol, 1600-2100
horas |
MODEL EVENT
Can this event be replicated? Yes! For those who would like
to create their own tourism fair, we have compiled a list of
recommendations. |
SEMINARS
Learning never ends. See if one of our seminars
is right for you. |
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