Bolivian government restructuring of tourism and culture

The Bolivian government initiated a restructuring plan to reduce the number of ministries from fourteen to twelve, which included the dissolution of the Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Culture, Folklore and Gastronomy. This ministry is to be replaced by a new National Agency of Tourism, Folklore and Gastronomy, a move intended to increase efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.

The decision triggered significant opposition from various sectors. The Cámara Boliviana de Turismo (Cabotur) described the move as a “black day for tourism,” expressing concern that essential projects and regulatory frameworks are at risk due to the new agency’s uncertain authority and resources. Cultural groups also criticized the reform as an “unacceptable omission of culture,” demanding autonomous institutions with adequate funding.

As the backlash intensified, the Vice Minister of Cultures and Folklore, Andrés Zaratti Chevarría, submitted his irrevocable resignation. In his resignation, Zaratti argued that the government’s actions “weaken cultural institutionality” and criticized the tendency to treat culture as a mere accessory to tourism. He warned of a “high risk” to cultural management, noting that cultural and creative economies generate significant activity independently of tourism, such as the Gran Poder festival which mobilizes approximately $120 million.

Cultural managers and artists are demanding the restoration of a dedicated Ministry of Cultures to protect state-administered programs and the roughly 600,000 direct and indirect jobs supported by the sector. Opponents have further claimed the restructuring violates the Bolivian Constitution and international UNESCO agreements, leading affected sectors to declare a state of active emergency and call for emergency departmental laws.