tourism

Survey results ready

This week international and local consultants responsible for the preparation of the Master Plan for Tourism will meet with industry representatives to validate findings from surveys done between November 2007 and January 2008. The national director of the project, Jaime Cornejo, noted that the consultants will host various workshops to discuss the findings. The survey attempted to collect data about a wide range of factors impacting the country's tourism market, including infrastructure, the state of attractions and the social and economic impact.

"We are checking this information with people at the national level," said Cornejo, who anticipates that there might be a first draft of the plan ready by June.

After the data is analyzed, the consultants will begin to work on a national strategy, which will include recommendations on changes and upgrades that need to be made to the areas that impact tourism.

Cornejo said that the final stage of the process will be to identify the specific projects that should be addressed by the government, and to outline their cost.

He noted that the most positive development in the preparation of the master plan has been the consensus that has been reached by the many groups involved in the process.