At the recent International Tourism Fair, FITUR, held in Madrid, Spain, Solentiname Tours Discover Nicaragua was awarded a “Tourist Excellencias 2020” award for the “Viva Solentiname Free of Plastic” project.
The award was presented by José Carlos de Santiago, President of the Excelencias Group and received by Javier Munguía González, Diplomatic Attaché of the Nicaraguan Embassy to the Kingdom of Spain.
Immanuel Zerger is the General Manager of Solentiname Tours. Zerger thanked the Municipal Mayor of San Carlos, the hospitable population of Solentiname and the German Cooperation Organization (GIZ).
The Excelencias Group awards (now in their 16th year) are presented to recognize the efforts of those that have advanced tourism, culture and gastronomy in the Ibero-American region.
Viva Solentiname, Plastic Free!
The nature, biodiversity and captivating beauty was being threatened by the amount of plastic waste accumulating on the islands, polluting its coasts and water sources and also contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases.
Solentiname Tours – Discover Nicaragua has been committed to sustainable tourism since they started in business over two decades ago. With help from the German Cooperation (GIZ), the people of the Solentiname Archipelago and the Municipal Mayor’s Office of San Carlos, the “Viva Solentiname Plastic Free” was born.
First, the entire population of artisans, painters, sculptors, fishermen and farmers, women and youngsters were mobilized to clean up and collect five tons of accumulated plastic waste. It was collected from houses, schools, roads, countryside and coasts and taken to the mainland for recycling.
Then, they produced more than 100 products as alternative to plastic from bamboo, dried jicaro, local fabrics, paper and cardboard to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment. As well, every visitor leaves their plastic single use water bottles on the mainland before embarking by boat to the islands.
Solentiname Tours – Discover Nicaragua
Mr. Immanuel Zerger is the founder of Solentiname Tours Discover Nicaragua and for over 22 years has made the commitment to sustainable tourism. “Viva Solentiname – Plastic Free” is just one of their mottos. Solentiname Tours promotes a life in harmony with nature based on environmental education, using alternative natural products rather than plastic, protecting biodiversity, caring for the health of the families of the Solentiname archipelago, the participation of its people and sustainable natural development contributing to the mitigation of climate change.
Solentiname Archipelago
A cluster or chain of 36 islands in the southern part of Lake Cocibolca. The four main islands are called; Mancarroncito, Mancarrón, San Fernando and La Venada.
With its incredible natural setting, the exotic birds, beaches, cultural and historical wealth, it was no wonder that Solentiname was declared a protected area under the category of National Monument (Decree No. 527 and by resolution No. 6699 of MARENA (Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources)
FITUR 2021 – “Positive Results for Show, Despite the Pandemic”
The stats are in and The International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2021 in Madrid, Spain, closed having received 42,000 professional visitors and another 20,000 from the general public. Fifty-five countries were represented by a total of 5,000 businesses to talk to clients about the “reactivation of tourism” around the world.
This year was a hybrid edition, face to face and virtual. An additional 41,000 professionals chose to attend the tourism fair in the form of a digital audience.
It’s worth noting that the January 2020 (pre-pandemic event) set a record with 11,040 companies representing 165 countries and regions and was attended by over 150,000 trade visitors and 111,089 visitors from the general public.
Next year’s show (19th-23rd of January 2022) returns to its usual January date and FITUR will reclaim its title of the first major tourism fair of the year and kick off the tourism fair circuit.
FITUR – International Tourism Trade Fair for tourism professionals and brings together; Travel Agencies, Tour Operators, Hotels & Accommodation, Carrier Companies, Leisure & Culture, Residential Tourism, Service Companies, Travel Media and Trade Associations etc.
