Joint promotion of Viacha-Tiwanaku-Lago Titicaca tourist circuit with SOBOCE, Bolivian government and local communities

Amidst a great popular fiesta, a ceremony in the localities of Tiwanaku and Viacha formally began the project "Culture for Development: Viacha-Tiwanaku-Lake Titicaca" with the participation of the Andean Development Corporation, Sociedad Boliviana de Cemento (SOBOCE), the Bolivian government and the peasant communities of the area.

The project is designed to revalue the culture and history of Ingavi province in La Paz Department by creating a tourist circuit among the localities of Viacha, Tiwanaku and the south bank of Lake Titicaca to stimulate the economic development of the communities in the area, generate employment, combat poverty, discourage migration and improve the quality of life of the inhabitants. Tourism is one of the activities with possible competitive advantages for all developing countries, especially Bolivia.

The ceremonies were attended by CAF Executive President Enrique García; Economic Development Minister Samuel Xavier Nogales; Soboce President Samuel Doria Medina; Tiwanaku Mayor Lino Condori; Viacha Mayor Isabel Tapia; and local authorities.

García said that the project was a response to the core objectives of human development, strengthening cultural identity, social participation, economic development and combating poverty. He explained that the project stems from CAF´s objective of joining forces and capacities to achieve social objectives. In this case, joint contributions were made by private enterprise (Soboce), international cooperation (CAF), the Bolivian government (Economic Development Ministry), and local communities (mayors).

The projects repeats successful experiences with this cooperation scheme in other regions of Bolivia, such as the communities of Culpina K, Villa Alota and San Cristóbal in Potosí. These communities became reference areas in the Salar de Uyuni tourist circuit. What were once neglected localities now offer quality tourist services that even include the Internet. These towns receive income, revalue their culture and traditions, and generate jobs, all of which discourage emigration to the cities. In this field the CAF offers real projects in execution and not only studies.

The "Culture for Development: Viacha-Tiwanaku-Lago Titicaca” project is part of a broader proposal to "improve tourism the Andean region." The initiative was conceived to achieve higher levels of competitiveness and sustainability by positioning the Andean region as a micro-tourism destination capable of competing at world level. As part of this plan, a meeting of the Bolivian National Action Committee was recently held which defined a national strategic plan based on an Andean regional approach. The committee includes authorities from the Bolivian tourist sector, tourist operators, academics, and airline and restaurant associations. In CAF´s view, tourism is a sector with great potential for stimulating the economic development of the Andean region, and improving the living standards of its population.

Project activities include restoration of plazas and access roads to towns and villages, creation of spaces for culture and recreation, recovery of original architecture of houses and other buildings, construction of sanitary landfills, training of local people, organization of cultural activities, recovery of suka kollus, building of trekking and cycling paths, support for new businesses that offer quality services, and resumption of the train service on the La Paz-Viacha-Tiwanaku-Guaqui line. The project will have direct benefits for over 33,000 people and indirect for 83,000 more in both municipalities.

Soboce President Samuel Doria Medina said that the project combines the synergies of all the participants. His company is providing a team of professionals, economists and engineers and the Andean Development Corporation is contributing funds, in cooperation with the beneficiary communities themselves. For every dollar that Soboce injects, the CAF contribute three.

In 2002 UNESCO declared Tiwanaku, one of the most important tourist attractions in Bolivia, a World Heritage Site. The main attractions are the archeological site of the ancient capital, especially the semi-subterranean Kalasaya Shrine, the Akapana and Puma Punku pyramids, two museums and the Tiwanaku temple. Viacha, capital of Ingavi province, forms a bridge between the urban world of the city of La Paz and the rural and ancestral region of the Altiplano. Letanías Hill is another tourist attraction in the area. The south bank of Lake Titicaca has immense tourist potential because of its natural landscapes and possibilities of ethno-eco-tourism. Bolivian tourism generates the equivalent of 11% of national exports and contributes 2% of GDP.