Bolivia was awarded the title of Destination Cultural Leader of South America 2017 in the World Travel Awards, also known as the oscars of tourism, is the most important recognition of the tourism and travel sector in the world. The main ceremony for Latin America took place at the famous Hard Rock hotel in the Riviera Maya in Mexico. At 20:00 the gala began with the presence of authorities from different countries, as well as the most important representatives of the private sector of tourism “From the very heart of South America, we invite everyone to know the history and reality of 36 nationalities that we have in our country Plurinational State of Bolivia”,said the ambassador of Bolivia, José Crespo, at the time of receiving the Tourism Oscar.

If you are interested in traveling in Bolivia, please vote on the website

The Ambassador of Bolivia in China, Heriberto Quispe (left), receives the award on behalf of the Plurinational State.

CAYTON BENAVIDES / Change

The XXIV annual World Travel Awards (WTA) announced yesterday that Bolivia was chosen as the Best Cultural Destination of the World 2017 after competing for the title against China, France, India, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia and Vietnam.

This contest, compared to the Oscar awards for films, but in the tourism field, has been held since 1993 to highlight excellence in all sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry worldwide.

 "Very proud because Bolivia has been voted Best Cultural Destination of the World 2017 at the World Travel Awards held in Vietnam. The world recognizes our original wealth and our cultural heritage. Congratulations, "were the words of President Evo Morales, one of the first to greet this victory from his Twitter account.

"Bolivia is # CorazondelSur, our homeland has been blessed by the Pachamama and the Achachilas with an incomparable beauty and cultural diversity, which are our identity, our strength. We invite the brothers and sisters of the world to meet us, "he wrote in another tweet.

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Wilma Alanoca, said that the award synthesizes the value of the 36 cultures, nations and native indigenous peoples of the country and Afro-Bolivians, recognized since 2006 in the Political Constitution of the Plurinational State.

"With this new recognition, Bolivia is placed at the top of the tourist sites with its own cultural identity. In this way, the travel and tourism sector of the world recognizes the permanent effort made by the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and all citizens for the preservation and dissemination of the various cultural expressions of indigenous peoples and indigenous peoples and Afro-Bolivians who inhabit in this blessed land, "he said, quoted in a statement from this state portfolio.

He recalled that Bolivia achieved the prize of Best Cultural Destination of South America months before in a competition in which he beat Argentina and Brazil.

He also referred to the importance of the nomination, which is the most important award in the world of travel and hospitality, and said that the country is prepared, with infrastructure and tourism services, to receive people who want to know.

"Bolivians should feel proud because it was a very tough competition, taking into account that we rivaled other leading countries in the tourism area, such as France and China," he said.

In addition, he stressed that it is the first time that Bolivia is nominated and wins, which fills with happiness, since "the world recognized the revaluation of cultures".

Invitation to know the country's wealth

The final gala 2017 was held at the impressive JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa, one of the most touristic sites on the South Coast of Vietnam.

The person in charge of receiving the statuette was the Ambassador of Bolivia in China, Heriberto Quispe, who in his speech invited the important audience to visit the country.

"I want to invite you to visit the thousand-year-old town of Kollasuyo, its nine departments, its 36 nationalities, the east and the west, the people who live in Samaipata and Tiwanaku, the Salar de Uyuni and Lake Titicaca, the Amazon and the route of the wines, Toro Toro and Yungas, the Cerro Rico de Potosí and the Amazonian pampas of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, "said the diplomat.

The event began at 08.00 (Bolivian time) with the presence of hundreds of industry leaders from the region and the world.