Strengthening of Cocoa and Tourism Value Chains along the Cocoa and Chocolate Cu

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The province of Napo is one of the main points of entry for international tourists who visit Ecuador and want to see the Amazon Rainforest. This represents significant potential for tourism development, but the region is still enmeshed in poverty, with unmet basic needs indices of over 90%. Due to its unique geographic location, the province is also a principal producer of one of Ecuador¿s leading products: fine aroma cocoa, which is renowned in international markets for its exquisite aroma and flavor. Based on other MIF projects involving theme trails and value chains, this project will include the promotion of these two value chains (cocoa and tourism) and combine them into one unifying concept, the"Cocoa and Chocolate Cultural Trail" with the objective of establishing public and private partnerships and increasing local economic development opportunities.