Officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, this landlocked country is located in central South America. Double the size of France, it is bordered by Chile and Peru to the west, Brazil to the north and east and Argentina and Paraguay to the south. It is one of the least developed countries in South America even though it has rich natural resources including minerals and natural gas. The country is also one of the largest coca leaf producers in South America.

Bolivia is known for its biodiversity, rich culture and colonial history. The high biodiversity is a result of the county’s location in the Andes close to the tropics. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, at an altitude of 3,600 metres above sea level. The landscape of the country is enormously varied. It includes the Uyani salt flats, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon rainforest and the Pampas. The old cities of Sucre and Potosí showcase original churches, colonial buildings and museums. Bolivia is home to six UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage sites and 36 ethnic groups.

The majority of tourists come from the neighbouring Andean countries for business, for a visit to friends and relatives (VFR), and for leisure. The US, France, Germany and the UK are the main sources of inbound long-haul visitors, and in the past, Bolivia has been regarded as a backpacker destination for these markets. Recently, however, there been an increase in high-spending tourists and tour-operator groups to the country.

This report looks at the following aspects of the travel and tourism market in Bolivia:

Tourist arrivals - overnights and expenditure

Purpose of visit - business, leisure or VFR

Accommodation supply - operating performance

Tourism policy - management

Transport - access and infrastructure

Tourism funding - promotion and future development