At present, chocolate represents a multibillion-dollar industry involving millions of people worldwide: farmers, processors, distributors, artisans, chefs, researchers, and travelers. Beyond its economic dimension, it is a gastronomic heritage of immense richness that inspires festivals, museums, tourist routes, chocolate-making workshops, scientific research, and sensory experiences that fuse culture, nature, science, and art. Yet the cocoa supply chain faces significant challenges: the impact of climate change, the urgent need for sustainable farming practices, social justice for producers, product traceability, the conservation of native varieties, and the resilience of ecosystems.
In this scenario, the World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourist Destinations Network plays a fundamental role. As part of the Tourism and Society Think Tank, this Network works to reconnect producing regions with consumers, tourist destinations, and visitors, offering immersive experiences that encompass everything from cocoa cultivation and processing to the tasting of chocolates of diverse origins and styles. Its mission is clear: to unite all actors in the value chain within a project of sustainable development, cultural tourism, and collective benefit. More information at www.tourismandsocietytt.com/red-mundial-turismo-cacao-y-derivados.
The Network pursues strategic objectives woven into a single vision. In the field of sustainable and educational tourism, it promotes routes and networks that teach and raise awareness about cocoa cultivation, processing, and production, always incorporating responsible agricultural practices. In terms of culture and local identity, it highlights the traditions, history, and heritage linked to cocoa, strengthening its role in the economy and cultural life of producing communities. Regarding benefits for local communities, it creates real economic opportunities for producers and other local actors, fostering inclusive tourism that distributes value throughout the territory. And in relation to gastronomic experiences, it offers visitors authentic culinary and sensory encounters, showcasing local varieties, traditional methods, and chocolate innovations that enrich the tourism offering.
The reach of the Network is broad and diverse. It integrates tourist destinations—cities, regions, and producing countries—cocoa growers, specialized gastronomic companies, travel agencies, tour operators, academic institutions, technology firms, sustainability associations, local governments, and communities. Each member provides an essential link in the cocoa tourism value chain, from sustainable cultivation and the preservation of traditional varieties to product innovation and the design of immersive tourism experiences. It is a living network in which international collaboration creates synergies, shares best practices, and generates economic and cultural impact that transcends borders.
International Chocolate Day is an opportunity for everyone—producers, governments, companies, tourists, and consumers—to acknowledge the work of those who cultivate cocoa with respect for nature and local communities. It is a chance to participate in tastings, workshops, chocolate fairs, gastronomic gatherings, cocoa routes, and thematic museums; to support fair-trade products and certified-origin chocolates; and to promote public policies that strengthen sustainability, protect ecosystems, and improve working conditions.
On this day, the World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourist Destinations Network reaffirms its role as a catalyst for positive change. On one hand, it demonstrates how tourism can serve as a tool to conserve natural and cultural heritage; on the other, it underscores that tourism development linked to cocoa only makes sense if it truly benefits local communities, promotes sustainable agricultural practices, and respects the environment. Its invitation is clear: destinations, visitors, organizations, and governments are encouraged to join this movement, register as members, and promote new routes, events, and products that highlight the varietal diversity of cocoa, its history, and its flavor.
On September 13, the world not only celebrates a food that delights the senses but also a legacy that unites cultures, strengthens economies, and raises awareness. Thanks to the work of the World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourist Destinations Network, this day becomes an occasion to look back and ahead, celebrating a millennia-old past and building a future in which chocolate is a symbol of justice, sustainability, and human connection.
