Bolivia warns 90,000 tourism jobs at risk from road blockades

Bolivia's tourism industry is under severe threat, with an estimated 90,000 jobs at risk due to persistent road blockades. The "significant risk" affects key departments like La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Cochabamba, and Chuquisaca, which are experiencing critical operational levels.

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We estimate that 90,000 jobs are at significant risk, with special impact in the most affected departments (La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Cochabamba, and Chuquisaca), where critical levels of operation have been registered.

Minister of Tourism, Cinthya Yáñez, announced an "emergency plan" for the sector, emphasizing that it includes immediate crisis response and structural strengthening. The plan aims to address the immediate impacts, recover tourism, protect supply chains, and preserve jobs. Losses in the tourism and gastronomy sectors have already reached $1.1 billion, excluding cultural activities.

The ongoing protests, initiated by peasant and labor unions demanding President Rodrigo Paz's resignation, have led to the postponement of major cultural events. These include the Larga Noche de Museos and the Gran Poder festival in La Paz, as well as an international film festival in Uyuni. This disruption has damaged Bolivia's reputation as a secure tourist destination.

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All of this has generated a deterioration of the country's perception as a safe and reliable tourist destination.

The broader conflict has resulted in at least ten deaths and economic losses exceeding $2.34 billion. President Paz recently signed a law allowing the Armed Forces to control protests, though its implementation requires further legislative approval.

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These are not isolated, improvised, or solely reactive actions to the situation, but rather seek to provide 'immediate responses' to the situation without losing the 'structural' vision.