The Venezuelan city of San Cristóbal, in Táchira state, hosted the sixth meeting of ministers and high authorities of Tourism of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), a meeting that brought together representatives of various countries in the region with the aim of strengthening cooperation and promoting integration.
During this event, more than 25 significant agreements were reached, including a new roadmap for the region, focused on promoting tourism as an engine of economic and social development.
The Secretary General of ALBA-TCP, Jorge Arreaza, highlighted the importance of this integration mechanism, emphasizing that, unlike other international agreements, ALBA does not only focus on economic issues, but seeks above all the encounter and cooperation between the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean:
«This is a space to get to know each other better, to meet again and to build a common future together,» said Arreaza during his speech at the opening of the meeting.
Among the most notable agreements, understanding memorandums were signed between Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba for training and capacity building in the development of touristic infrastructure. These agreements seek to increase the presence of tourists in the region and improve the quality of services offered to visitors.
One of the most innovative proposals that emerged during the meeting was the creation of a virtual visa for ALBA, which would facilitate the free movement of citizens of member countries without the current bureaucratic procedures. This measure would further boost cultural, tourist and economic exchange between the participating nations.
In addition, the upcoming 20th anniversary of the historic meeting between leaders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez in Havana, which began this important process of regional integration, was commemorated. The meeting concluded with a commitment to closely follow up on the agreements reached, with a new meeting scheduled for February 2025.
