First Tourist and Cultural Fair "Viva Coclé"

A variety of crafts, jobs, gastronomy and promotional activities, local, experiences and tourism products from the province of Coclé were shown at the first "Viva Coclé" tourist fair that was held on 6 August at the Plaza de la Independencia at Casco Antiguo, under the initiative of the Coclé House of Tourism and with the support of the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) through the office of the Casco Antiguo (OCA).

"To awaken the interest of the capitalists to travel to Coclé, we say to the public to do internal tourism and local tourism and to know his country and, of course, to consider Coclé among his choices with all the experience his locals have to offer him, as our motto says," Vive Coclé, where everything's close, "stated Luis Polo Roa, president of the Coclé House of Tourism.

For the great majority of about 30 exhibitors among artisans and entrepreneurs from different areas that they said present at this activity, it was the first time they visited the historic centre of Panama City, so it was a gratifying experience to get to know some of this site World Heritage and especially that have been the showcase to display the products they have at their disposal.

The hat pines' o, the nightlights of the traditional garment of the province, tremks, crafts such as soap stone, products obtained with beach shells, the history of the traditional salines of Aguadulce, plants and the Cacique Nató, among others were part of what the national and foreign public appreciated at the place's installations.

Another of the attractions of this event that also promotes the creative economy of Coclé, were the tourist initiatives, the hiking offers, stayesand guided tours that this region offers, among them some hotels, the Serpentary of Tropical Wonders, that brought two copies of the snakes that protect with them as well as Pitti Salaós Tours that are dedicated to developing tourism in the community of El Salao in Aguadulce.

"That kind of event unites our cultural, material and intangible heritage and especially promotes cultural tourism and that's why we join this initiative to be a showcase that promotes the cultural heritage of all regions of the country," stated Yessenia Sánchez, Director of Casco Antiguo's office at MiCultura.

Sánchez advanced that this initiative has been thought to be undertaken with tourism organisations from other provinces, who can come to the Casco Antiguo and share their cultural and commercial offers from their gastronomy to their tourist sites, so that Panamanian takes care of this heritage through cultural tourism and can contribute to the creative economy of the sector.