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Tourism authorities of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and the General Secretariat of the Andean Community of Nations present “Andean Roads” initiative”
Madrid, January 23rd, 2025.Within the framework of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), the tourism authorities of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and the Peru and the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (CAN) announced the upcoming launch of “Caminos Andinos”. This initiative seeks to strengthen the positioning of the Andean countries as a tourist region with a diversified and decentralized offer of routes that, in addition to connecting mature and conventional destinations, also promotes visits to lesser-known destinations, which will have a positive impact on local communities.
The Secretary General of the Andean Community, Ambassador Gonzalo Gutiérrez, remarked that this project has been worked on jointly by the countries since 2022, as a tool to recover the Andean region's tourism industry, which was affected by the COVID-19 sanitary emergency.
He emphasized that boosting tourism in the region means promoting the generation of employment and foreign exchange, which is very important because the Andean Community, as a whole, receives 1% of global tourism. “We are convinced that we can have a greater participation in international tourism. Therefore, guided by the spirit of integration, we are working on a consolidated offer of our tourist attractions that can be presented to the international community through a digital platform,” said the Secretary General of the Andean Community. CAN.
Caminos Andinos will offer tourists a unique and authentic experience that highlights the cultural and natural richness of the coastal, highland and Amazonian destinations offered by the Andean region as a whole.
Alberto Lora, Director General of Productive Transformation, Physical Integration and Services of the General Secretariat of the Andean Community, explained that “Caminos Andinos” will provide detailed information on routes throughout the Andean countries and offer useful recommendations on climate, transportation, currency, culture, gastronomy and customs, thus facilitating travel planning.
Tourism, which in 2024 represented an average of 2% of GDP in each Andean country, has become a priority sector for the development of these territories. Thus, in the same year, the sector generated approximately 3.8 million jobs in the region and received 11.6 million non-resident visitors. According to UN Tourism, 52% of the jobs in this sector in Latin America are occupied by women. In addition, 80% of the companies dedicated to tourism in the Andean Community are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which highlights the importance of strengthening this sector for the benefit of the local economy.
The main countries of origin of visitors to the Andean Community are the United States, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom stand out. In South America, Chile, Argentina and Brazil are key source markets.
“Andean Roads”The "Andean Region" will offer tourists a unique and authentic experience that highlights the cultural and natural richness of the coastal, highland and Amazonian destinations that the Andean region offers as a whole.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the tourism authorities of the Andean Community countries: Mateo Estrella, Minister of Tourism of Ecuador; Juan Manrique Camargo, Vice Minister of Tourism of Colombia; Bernardo Chura, Director General of Regulation of Tourism Services and Operations of Bolivia; and Sol Velásquez, Director of Tourism Promotion of PROMPERÚ of Peru.
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