Continuity of support for tourism chain in Sucre and Potosí

(La Paz, July 14, 2009). - The Andean Development Corporation approved a non-reimbursable technical cooperation donation to finance the second phase of the project "Implementation of a quality system in 30 enterprises in Sucre and Potosí," aimed at strengthening the process of implementation of continuous quality management in 20% of the tourism services chain in the two cities. CAF representative in Bolivia Emilio Uquillas and Régula Chavez, executive director of Swisscontact - executing agency of the project - signed the agreements which will implement this donation in Sucre and Potosí.

In a ceremony with participation of the beneficiary entities, Uquillas said the Corporation was supporting the program from the start because the tourism industry was a strategic element in the economic development of the country. It is fundamental to generate local capacity and improve the quality of the services in two departments with enormous potential. It was also announced that work with a large number of service providers - hotels, travel agencies and restaurants, among others - would continue in order to achieve a cross-cutting effect on the entire tourism business chain.

In the first stage, the project achieved positive results in the management of the beneficiary entities, such as a 26% rise in sales volume, improvement of labor productivity indicators, and optimization of the quality of the products and services offered, leading to a significant reduction in the number of complaints and claims.

In the new phase, levels of competitiveness in the sector are expected to improve following adoption of the principles of quality management with a view to obtaining ISO certifications. These measures will improve the quality of services and create new attractions aimed at increasing the tourism flow in the project's areas of influence.

The CAF representative said the program was part of the CAF mission to support the integrated sustainable development of its partner countries. He emphasized the importance of working to improve tourism capacity, particularly in this region which is home to one of the country's leading attractions. The program will be supplemented by the integrated work which the Corporation has been carrying out in this region with projects such as support for the design and implementation of a strategy of sustainable tourism development in Salar de Uyuni and Lagunas de Colores, as well as construction of the Potosí-Uyuni highway.