This year’s carnival increased visitor uptake of hotel rooms
to 62% - a 10% increase over the 2015 average occupancy rate.
The Association of Hotel Business and Tourism of La Paz
(Emprhotur) are delighted with the increase, and see the implications for
future growth.
Although clearly a good potential tourist attraction, up to
now the carnival has not really been pushed as a major attraction. However, Eduardo
Herrera Velazquez, president of Emprhotur, indicates that this year’s smooth
running, better events, and bigger acts are all pointers for future growth.
But he still sees room for improvement. Particularly the thorny issue of visiting street traders setting up
makeshift camps in the streets - “I completely agree with what has been
discussed, that they (street traders) are a little more forced to make use of hotel
services. They do not necessarily have to be high class”.
Local business owners
are keen to enforce this pointing out that it would reduce conflict over space and sanitation in
the streets. Both of which are currently bad for business and off putting for visitors.