Tarija sectors demand government reinstate Ministry of Sustainable Tourism

Tourism industry leaders in Tarija, Bolivia, are urgently calling for the government to reinstate the Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, which was dissolved on August 3rd. They argue that eliminating the ministry will strip the sector of its budget, political weight, and capacity to implement long-term policies.

Fabiola Mejía, president of the Association of Receptive Tourism Operators (Acoturt), emphasized the strategic importance of tourism, culture, and gastronomy for economic recovery and foreign exchange earnings. She stated that the ministry's closure leaves the sector without direction, particularly after a challenging period marked by extensive blockades.

Patricias Vargas, general manager of the Federation of Private Businesses of Tarija (FEPT), echoed these concerns, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding upcoming events like Vinoamérica. Vargas stressed that the tourism sector needs certainty, continuity, and a coordinating body for public and private efforts. The Chamber of Hoteliers of Tarija (CHT) also issued a statement, urging the central government to preserve the ministry's role as the national tourism policy's governing body.

Viviana Ugarte, a former director of Tourism for the Tarija Governorate, warned that the ministry's closure jeopardizes planned activities for promoting wine tourism and enotourism through Vinoamérica. She added that the continuity of work on the Master Plan for Tourism and other initiatives will be negatively impacted. President Rodrigo Paz has announced plans to create a National Agency for Tourism, Folklore, and Gastronomy to replace the ministerial structure, a move that has been met with skepticism by industry stakeholders.

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es necesario restituir el Ministerio de Turismo Sostenible para que no pierda presupuesto, peso político y capacidad de ejecutar políticas a largo plazo.