Delegate: Alan Alexis López Jiménez

School name: Colegio Benavente de Tlaxcala

Country: Republic of Cuba
Committee: General Assembly
General Objective: Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth
Topic (B): Sustainable tourism and local production

Good afternoon honorable chair and delegates, the president Miguel Díaz-Canel thanks to
be part of this committee. As all delegations know, the sustainable tourism in all countries
is important to improve and upgrade the economy that a country already has, also this
delegation is open for dialogue and wants to get the best and convenient idea.

Cuba has made significant progress in sustainable tourism development in recent years,
with the adoption of the National Plan for Sustainable Tourism in 2018, which focuses on
environmental protection, social inclusion, and economic growth. The plan emphasizes
the need to promote local production and consumption in the tourism sector and create
linkages with the agricultural and industrial sectors. Cuba has a rich agricultural heritage
and is known for its organic farming, which can provide high-quality food for tourists and
reduce the reliance on imported products.

Sustainable tourism development in Cuba requires a holistic approach that integrates

environmental protection, social inclusion, and economic growth. Promoting local
production and consumption can create linkages between the tourism sector and the local
economy, reduce the reliance on imported products, and contribute to poverty reduction
and equitable distribution of benefits. Sustainable tourism development can also enhance
cultural exchange opportunities, promote sustainable farming practices, and support local
entrepreneurship.

Sustainable tourism development can be achieved by promoting local production and

consumption in the following ways:

1.- Encouraging local sourcing of products and services: Tourism businesses should be
encouraged to source products and services locally, such as food, beverages, handicrafts,
and transportation. This can create employment opportunities for local communities and
reduce the carbon footprint of tourism by reducing transportation emissions.
2.- Developing agro-tourism: Agro-tourism is a form of tourism that involves visiting
agricultural areas and participating in farming activities. Cuba has significant potential for
agro-tourism, with its diverse agricultural heritage and organic farming practices. Agro-
tourism can promote sustainable farming practices and create income-generating
opportunities for local farmers.
3.- Supporting local entrepreneurship: The tourism sector can support local
entrepreneurship by providing training, mentoring, and financial support for small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that produce and sell local products and services. This
can create a diversified economy and reduce the dependency on the tourism sector.