The second night of World Tourism Week, held last Wednesday (24) at the Memorial do Homem Pantaneiro, reinforced the importance of culture and gastronomy in enhancing and innovating regional tourism. The event, promoted by the Corumbá City Hall and FUNDTUR Pantanal, brought together business owners, artists, cultural agents, industry professionals and the local community in two thematic panels that showed how Pantanal knowledge and flavors are competitive advantages for the Corumbá destination.
Cultural Identity as a Driver of Tourism
The first panel, “The Power of Local Knowledge in Tourism Innovation,” highlighted how the traditional knowledge of Pantanal communities can generate authentic experiences valued by visitors. Music, theater, crafts, literature and other forms of expression were presented as tools to strengthen tourism based on local identity.
Gastronomy as a Travel Experience
Next, the panel “Flavors of the Land as Potential for Tourism Innovation” offered examples of how Pantanal cuisine can add value to activities such as horseback rides, trails, river tours, city tours and photo safaris. The idea is to turn typical flavors into unique, memorable experiences for visitors to the region.
Voices of the Pantanal
The president-director of FUNDTUR Pantanal, Zelinho Carvalho, stressed that the integration between culture and gastronomy is strategic:
“Local knowledge and flavors are not just attractions, they are differentiators that boost the competitiveness of the Corumbá destination. Travelers want to experience what is unique, and the Pantanal of Corumbá is exactly that.”
Among the participants of the panels were representatives of the cultural and gastronomic sectors, such as:
- Márcia Rolon – Moinho Cultural Sul-americano
- Lídia Leite – Recanto Vale do Sol | Fazenda Nhuporã
- Marcelle Saboya – Leituras de Macondo
- Thayná Beraldo Cambará – Bela Oyá Pantanal
- Suzianny Ebeling – Corumbá Produz
- Amanda Migueis – Restaurante Migueis
- André Ramalho – Trechos e Textos
- Salim Haqzan – Ator
- Carlos Pierazzoli – CAIMASUL
During the talks, participants reinforced the role of culture as a link between visitors and the community:
Márcia Rolon recalled that “culture is a tool of belonging. Tourism needs to value the culture-makers, because they are the ones who give soul to the experience.”
André Ramalho highlighted music as a universal language: “music guides the tourist through the emotions the land sings.”
Salim Haqzan stressed the power of theater: “theater brings people closer. It connects the tourist with the living history of our people.”
Continuity of the Program
World Tourism Week continues with cultural activities, technical visits and workshops, always aiming to strengthen tourism as a tool for valuing the territory and generating income, giving visibility to the Pantanal of Corumbá as a destination of authentic experiences in the heart of Brazil.
