Azuay Province (Ecuador) recognized as a member of the World Cocoa and Deri

Azuay Province (Ecuador) recognized as a member of the World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourism Destinations Network

11-08-25

At a ceremony held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the Casa de la Provincia, the Prefecture of Azuay officially received its membership in the World Network of Cocoa and Cocoa-Derived Tourism Destinations and presented the “Cocoa Route in Azuay.”

The World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourism Destinations Network is an initiative that connects places and experiences related to cocoa, from its cultivation to its transformation into products such as chocolate. It seeks to promote sustainable and educational tourism, highlighting the importance of cocoa in the history and culture of various regions.

At the beginning of 2025, the Prefecture of Azuay joined this Network with the aim of developing and promoting tourism related to cocoa, given the great potential of this sector in the province, where the entire value chain is present—from cultivation and processing to gastronomic and experiential activities.

At the event, Azuay’s Vice Prefect, Alexandra Quintanilla, noted that Azuay is the first province in Ecuador to join the World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourism Destinations Network, which represents a major opportunity to diversify the region’s economy and tourism offerings. She also indicated that the Prefecture is working to preserve traditional cocoa cultivation under the FIASA Project (Research Fund for Agrobiodiversity, Seeds, and Sustainable Agriculture).

Alexandra Quintanilla also presented the “Cocoa Route of Azuay,” a document prepared by the Provincial Government to provide a comprehensive guide to cocoa in the province (its value, history, uses, etc.) and to showcase places in Azuay that can be visited for cocoa-related experiences, including production sites (plantations, processing plants) and culinary and learning experiences (museums, specialized tastings, restaurants, etc.). The “Cocoa Route of Azuay” is available at www.visitazuay.com (Rutas section).

The event also featured the panel discussion “Opportunities for Cocoa in Azuay” with experts in History and Heritage, Production and Gastronomy, and Sustainable and Innovative Tourism. Additionally, there was a chocolate exhibition and tasting led by various entrepreneurs and brands from the province.

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