Bolivia, La Paz, Sucre, Santa Cruz, Uyuni, Potosí, Cochabamba, Oruro and Tarija are entering a new phase of tourism development as the country moves to establish a National Agency for Tourism, Folklore and Gastronomy alongside a Sustainable Tourism Master Plan for 2026–2035. The strategy is designed to place tourism, cultural heritage, folklore and gastronomy within a wider national development framework while strengthening cooperation between public authorities and private businesses.
The bigger story is the scope. Rather than concentrating tourism investment around a handful of famous destinations, the new plan covers all nine departments of Bolivia.
A National Tourism Agency Takes Shape
The proposed National Agency for Tourism, Folklore and Gastronomy is intended to provide a more coordinated structure for the country’s tourism sector.
Bolivia has an exceptionally diverse tourism portfolio, ranging from the Salar de Uyuni and Andean landscapes to colonial cities, Amazonian ecosystems, Indigenous traditions and distinctive regional cuisines.
Bringing tourism, folklore and gastronomy under one institutional framework creates an opportunity to promote these assets collectively rather than treating them as separate sectors.
The planned agency also forms part of a broader effort to reduce administrative barriers and strengthen coordination between government institutions and private-sector tourism operators.
For international visitors, that could eventually mean a more streamlined tourism environment.
The 2026–2035 Master Plan Covers the Whole Country
The Sustainable Tourism Master Plan for 2026–2035 is notable for its nationwide reach.
All nine departments — La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Oruro, Tarija, Beni and Pando — are included in the framework.
That matters because Bolivia’s tourism potential extends well beyond the destinations most familiar to international travellers.
La Paz provides access to high-altitude landscapes and Andean culture. Sucre offers colonial architecture and heritage. Santa Cruz connects travellers with eastern Bolivia and tropical environments, while Uyuni remains the gateway to the country’s spectacular salt flats.
Potosí contributes mining history, Cochabamba brings food and valley landscapes, Oruro is strongly associated with folklore and cultural traditions, and Tarija offers vineyards, gastronomy and a different regional identity.
Beni and Pando add Amazonian ecosystems and biodiversity to the national tourism picture.
Sustainable Tourism Becomes a Central Priority
Sustainability is one of the defining elements of the new strategy.
Bolivia’s most important attractions include fragile natural and cultural environments. The Salar de Uyuni, high-altitude lagoons, Amazon forests and heritage cities all require tourism development to be balanced with conservation.
A decade-long master plan provides a framework for considering how tourism infrastructure, visitor management, local communities and environmental protection can develop together.
This is particularly relevant as international travellers increasingly look for nature-based and community-connected experiences.
For destinations such as Uyuni and Bolivia’s Amazon regions, sustainable tourism can also help ensure that growing visitor numbers do not undermine the resources that attract travellers in the first place.
Folklore Moves Into the Tourism Spotlight
Bolivia’s cultural identity is another major component of the strategy.
Folklore is deeply embedded in the country’s tourism offer, from traditional music and dance to festivals, costumes, crafts and Indigenous cultural practices.
Oruro Carnival, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, is among the country’s most internationally recognised cultural events.
Integrating folklore into the national tourism framework could help position cultural traditions as year-round tourism assets rather than attractions limited to specific festival dates.
That creates opportunities for cultural routes, performances, craft experiences and community tourism across different regions.
Gastronomy Gets a Bigger Role
Food is also being positioned as a tourism asset.
Bolivia’s cuisine varies considerably by region, reflecting its geography and cultural diversity.
La Paz offers contemporary interpretations of Andean ingredients, Cochabamba is widely associated with traditional Bolivian food, while Tarija has developed a distinctive wine and gastronomy profile.
Amazonian regions add another layer through native ingredients and traditional food practices.
Bringing gastronomy into the new national agency’s remit gives food tourism a more formal place in Bolivia’s destination strategy.
La Paz, Uyuni and the Major Gateways
International tourism will continue to rely heavily on established destinations.
La Paz remains one of Bolivia’s principal gateways and a key base for exploring the Andes. Uyuni provides access to the Salar de Uyuni and southwestern circuits, while Santa Cruz serves as a major commercial and aviation hub.
Sucre and Potosí offer strong heritage tourism potential, while Cochabamba and Tarija can diversify itineraries through food, wine and regional culture.
The challenge for the new strategy is therefore not simply attracting visitors to Bolivia, but encouraging them to travel beyond the country’s most recognisable tourism circuit.
What the Plan Means for Travellers
For visitors, the master plan could eventually produce a broader range of tourism products across Bolivia.
A traveller could combine Uyuni’s salt landscapes with La Paz’s urban culture, Sucre’s heritage, Potosí’s mining history and Tarija’s wine experiences.
Longer itineraries could incorporate Amazon destinations in Beni and Pando, while cultural routes could connect festivals, crafts, gastronomy and Indigenous communities.
The nine-department approach therefore creates space for Bolivia to market itself as a multi-region destination rather than a country defined by a handful of headline attractions.
Key Stats
- 2026–2035: Period covered by Bolivia’s new Sustainable Tourism Master Plan.
- 9: Departments included in the national tourism framework.
- 1: Proposed National Agency for Tourism, Folklore and Gastronomy.
- 9 departments: La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Oruro, Tarija, Beni and Pando.
- 3 pillars: Tourism, folklore and gastronomy are being brought together under the proposed agency.
Travel Guide: Building a Broader Bolivia Itinerary
Travellers can begin in La Paz before heading towards Uyuni for the country’s iconic salt-flat circuit.
Sucre and Potosí add colonial and mining heritage, while Cochabamba provides food and valley experiences.
Tarija is suited to travellers interested in vineyards and regional gastronomy, while Oruro provides a stronger folklore and festival connection.
Visitors seeking Amazon experiences can consider routes into Beni and Pando, although remote destinations require additional planning and transport time.
FAQ
1. What is Bolivia’s new tourism master plan?
The Sustainable Tourism Master Plan covers 2026–2035 and is designed to guide tourism development across all nine departments.
2. What will the proposed national agency cover?
The National Agency for Tourism, Folklore and Gastronomy is intended to coordinate these three areas within a broader national tourism framework.
3. Which Bolivian destinations could benefit from the plan?
Major destinations including La Paz, Uyuni, Sucre and Potosí are included, alongside less internationally prominent regions such as Beni, Pando and Tarija.
Timeline and Events
2026 — Bolivia begins implementing the new Sustainable Tourism Master Plan covering the 2026–2035 period.
2026–2035 — The national strategy is designed to cover tourism development across all nine Bolivian departments.
2035 — Target year for the completion of the decade-long sustainable tourism planning framework.
Conclusion
Bolivia is giving its tourism sector a broader national blueprint. The proposed National Agency for Tourism, Folklore and Gastronomy and the 2026–2035 Sustainable Tourism Master Plan bring destinations, cultural traditions and food experiences into one development strategy.
For travellers, the most significant change could be the widening of Bolivia’s tourism map. La Paz and Uyuni may continue to attract the biggest international attention, but Sucre, Potosí, Cochabamba, Oruro, Tarija, Beni and Pando offer opportunities to build richer, longer and more diverse journeys.
With all nine departments included, Bolivia’s next tourism chapter is being designed to make the entire country part of the story.
