Management system for the improvement of competitiveness in tourism enterprises in Uyuni

With the purpose of contributing to excellence in management in 14 small and medium-sized tourism enterprises that operate in Uyuni, encouraging them to reach international standards of quality, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, in alliance with the Vice Ministry of Tourism and the Autonomous Municipal Government of Uyuni promote the implementation of a management system to improve their competitiveness (SGMC).

Some of the objectives of the initiative are to improve the offer of these companies, and diversify the activities offered to tourists to prolong their stay, revitalizing the economy of this population. 

Emilio Uquillas, CAF's Director Representative in Bolivia, explained that the implementation of this project intends to increase productivity, the volume of operations, the cash flow, and profits for the 14 participating companies, as well as improve the quality of their products, services, and customer service. He highlighted that the initiative should reduce complaints, the waste of materials and time, and should give companies the real possibility of accessing new segments, clients, and users, increasing the satisfaction and trust levels. 

Uquillas said, "We want to promote a culture of excellence in small and medium-sized tourism companies in Uyuni so that when the implementation ends, they may project themselves toward the future with world class standards and approaches". 

Companies were selected through a presentation workshop held in the city of Uyuni. The program will take place during the next 10 months, and it is expected that for the start of the 2015 Dakar Rally, in January of next year, they will be in better conditions to receive and provide services to tourists. 

This initiative complements other projects developed by CAF with the Vice Ministry of Tourism, such as the "Plan de Desarrollo Turístico Sostenible del Salar de Uyuni" (Sustainable Tourism Development Plan for the Salar de Uyuni), with  Swisscontact in the "ISO certification process in enterprises linked to tourism", and the road infrastructure projects financed by the entity in the Potosi-Uyuni, Uyuni-Tupiza, and Uyuni-Huancarani-Condo K cross, among others.

Uyuni is a city located in Southwestern Bolivia in the Department of Potosi. It is a well-known local and international turism destination because of the Salar (salt flat) and the Andean landscape.