Nicaraguan Puro Sabor Cigar Festival 2021 Cancelled Due to COVID-19

By Tobacco Business -October 14, 2020

The Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco has made the decision to cancel the 2021 edition of its international tobacco festival, Puro Sabor. The event was scheduled to take place in January 2021.

“Our priority is the care we want to give to our people in the factories and to the people who would have visited us for the festival. The evolution of COVID-19 is still unpredictable, so we believe we have made the best decision. It is a responsible and conscious measure,” commented Claudio Sgroi, president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco Growers. Sgroi is also president of Mombacho Cigars S.A.

Though there was a desire to hold Puro Sabor, the decision to cancel was made by all 28 members of the Nicaragua Chamber of Tobacco.

“The cancellation of the festival does not mean that we are inactive,” added Sgroi. “On the contrary, we are preparing for the next few months virtual factory tours and personalized virtual master classes with experts and manufacturers of the most prestigious Nicaraguan brands.”

This is not the first time Puro Sabor has been cancelled. Following the social unrest in Nicaragua, the 2019 edition of Puro Sabor was cancelled. It returned earlier this year with over 120 visitors from 21 countries taking part.

Like all industries, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Nicaragua’s thriving tobacco industry and the 40,000 people it employs. To safeguard these workers, tobacco factories in Nicaragua have been conducting prevention and education campaigns, in addition to adopting strict prevention measures at their facilities. These measures include establishing hand washing and disinfection stations at the entrance of the factories, mandatory use of masks and maintaining social distancing.

The Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco was established in 2008 to ensure the interests of Nicaragua’s most important tobacco and cigar producers were heard and addressed. Its 28 members represents 95 parent of the total Nicaraguan production of tobacco and cigars.

For all the latest news from Puro Sabor, visit nicaraguancigarfestival.com.