Protest blockades devastate tourism in Bolivia's Andean region

Bolivia's vital tourism industry is facing a severe crisis, crippled by 40 days of ongoing protests and blockades that have paralyzed the Andean region. The prolonged unrest has led to a drastic drop in tourist activity, with hotels and travel agencies reporting mass cancellations. Restaurants in popular areas like La Paz's famed Witches' Market have shuttered, and income for local vendors has evaporated as expected visitors fail to arrive.

The traditional tourist routes in La Paz are eerily quiet, with many businesses forced to close due to the lack of both foreign and domestic tourists. Merchants are lamenting the impact of the conflict, which is being driven by the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) and peasant unions demanding President Rodrigo Paz's resignation. The blockades are concentrated primarily in the Andean and central parts of the country, cutting off access and deterring travel.

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We are suffering greatly. Foreigners are not coming, because we sell to them.

Official estimates from the Ministry of Sustainable Tourism indicate that the tourism and gastronomy sectors have suffered losses amounting to approximately 1.1 billion bolivianos, or $110 million. The La Paz Hotel Association reported a staggering 65% cancellation rate for reservations, with occupancy rates now hovering at a mere 18%. In the Witches' Market, stalls filled with amulets, handicrafts, and souvenirs stand empty, awaiting customers who are not coming.

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We don't know what to do; the president says nothing, the mayors say nothing, and they keep blocking.

Vendors like 82-year-old Aymara merchant Justina López express deep distress, noting a complete absence of foreign tourists for three weeks. "We are suffering greatly. Foreigners are not coming, because we sell to them," she lamented, adding that she cannot afford rent or municipal taxes. "We don't know what to do; the president says nothing, the mayors say nothing, and they keep blocking," she pleaded, urging dialogue between the government and protesters.

Restaurant owner Tomas Luna reopened his establishment after two weeks of closure, but was forced to lay off five of his seven employees due to an inability to cover salaries. "There is no other way. When there is work, we need them, but now we are tremendously screwed," Luna said, also citing the soaring costs of essential goods like meat and vegetables. He believes protesters should wait for the legally established time to call for a referendum on President Paz's mandate, rather than resorting to disruptive blockades.

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There is no other way. When there is work, we need them, but now we are tremendously screwed.