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Report: Second Tourism Fair of the Central Region in Boaco

Alejandra Lezzama | Jul 25, 2011

More than 135 expositors participated on this fair giving information about tourist destinations, gastronomy, crafts and culture.

Cultural performances, comedy shows, information about tourist destinations, traditional dishes and handicrafts, among other entertainment activities, were part of the Second Tourism Fair of the Central Region of Nicaragua. The activity was held on July, Thursday 21 and Friday 22 at the central park of the city of Boaco right before the religious festivities in honor of Santiago, its patron saint.

The event, which was organized by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR), featured the participation of more than 135 small entrepreneurs, such as providers of tourist services, tour operators, artisans and producers of the agricultural industry. Furthermore, some of the stands also included gastronomy, jewelry and art exhibitions, as well as tasting of dairy products, leather garment samples, among others.

The opening ceremony started on July 21 at 4:00 pm. The major of Boaco, Juan Obando, gave a welcoming speech and thanked the organizers for choosing the city as the headquarters of the event. Moreover, Mario Salinas, president of INTUR, said that the goal of the activity is to turn Boaco into a tourist destination through the relationship that this governmental institutions established with entrepreneurs and tour operators.

There was a carnival that toured the main streets of Boaco, also known as the "city of two floors". In addition, there were cultural presentations, a comedy show by Aniceto Prieto and La Lupita (national characters) and a performance by Juan Gabriel Nica. Attendees also had an urban canopy located in the Southern side of the park and there were several concerts given by the groups Xolobatucada, Fusion 4, La Nueva Compania and Tumbao.

The program of activities also included a small trip with ten tour operators that visited each municipality of Boaco. Hence, the visitors could get to know some of the attractions of the central region and have meetings with entrepreneurs of the area. The activity was organized in order to turn the department into a suitable tourist destination, according to what Julio Videa, INTUR's Marketing Director explained.

Organizers also stated that owners of small businesses, artisans and artists from the six municipalities of Boaco received funds for transportation, lodging and food. Generally, these expositors do not have the means to attended these kinds of fairs and are usually invited by this government institution.

Translated by Cinthia Membreño