Having been a leader in tourism planning over the past decades, OC Global now focuses on integrating tourism with community development, environment management, and heritage conservation.

EXPERTISE OC Gllobal has been a pioneer in tourism planning since it participated in the World Bank-financed Bali Tourism Development Project in 1972 as the first Japanese consulting firm participated in an international tourism project. The project planned and developed the Nusa Dua beach resort complex, which is now a world-class tourism destination. Since then OC Global has successfully completed more than 40 tourism projects in various locations of the world.

Design and construction management of accommodations and visitor facilities such as ecolodges, museums, and visitor centers, have been our traditional strength. OC Global also offers services for preparing national and regional master plans, tourism promotion plans, as well as market surveys that provide basis for the above- mentioned planning activities, including questionnaire surveys at airports and international borders, and group interview surveys to obtain information on the qualitative aspect of tourism markets.

OC Global excels not only in its capability to provide a wide range services for tourism development, but also in its innovativeness in its approach to tourism planning. Focuses have been placed in recent years on developing nature tourism and community-based tourism, in which tourism plays crucial roles for environmental conservation, cultural revitalization, and social development.

Tourism Planning and Development

CONSULTING SERVICES

Community-based tourism planning

Eco-museum planning and development with community participation

Mura-Okoshi and Michi-no-Eki planning for integrating tourism and local product development

Community development in rural areas

Capacity building for local tourism organisations

Ecotourism and heritage tourism planing

Ecotourism and adventure tourism planning

Environmental management plan with tourism strategies

Visitor facility development

Resort complex design and construction management

Archaeological park development

Tourism policy formulation

National and regional master planning

Institutional planning

Market research and tourism promotion

Visitor survey

Tourism promotion and marketing

Feasibility study

Tourism demand forecast

Feasibility study of tourism projects including economic and financial analysis

Sector Tourism Project Type Tourism Planning Project Title Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project Phase 1 Location Aurangabad District of Maharashtra State, India Client Ministry of Tourism / JICA (ex. JBIC) Project Period August 1993 – February 2004

Problems addressed by the Project The Ajanta-Ellora rock-cut cave temple complexes are located near Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra. Ajanta Caves, located 110 km north from Aurangabad, are composed of 30 caves finished around BC 1 andhave wall and ceiling paintings that are considered to be the earliest and finest examples of Buddhist pictorial art. Ellora Caves, located 30 km northwest from Aurangabad,with a total 34 caveshave important art and sculptural evidence of the emerging tradition of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain art forms. UNESCO accorded both complexes with the status of World Heritage Sites since they are the monuments of world significance that deserve conservation and protection for the benefit of mankind. The sites represent the most significant tourism assets in the state and were designated as Special Tourism Areas; however, visitor potential is constrained by the lack of adequate infrastructure and visitor facilities and amenities. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) developed a Tourism Development Master Plan in 1992,which was given high priority in the National Action Plan for Tourism. Hence, the Government of India requested the Government of Japan to provide financial assistance through JICA for implementation of the Master Plan.

Service Period Demand forecastof visitors to the region: Ajanta 2,154,000 and Ellora 2,692,000 in 2020 Design of a visitor management system Feasibility study (economic and financial analysis) Detailed design Implementation supervision

Actual Project Recommendations

Subprojects Agent Ajanta Ellora

Conservation of Monuments Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) ✔ ✔

Afforestation Forest Department Maharashtra (FDM) ✔ ✔

Improvement of Aurangabad Airport National Airport Authority (NAA) ✔

Improvement of Roads Public Work Department (PWD) ✔ ✔

Water Supply & Sewerage System Maharashtra Water Supply & Sewerage Board (MWSS) ✔ ✔

Electrical Supply Maharashtra State Electricity Board(MSEB) ✔ ✔

Tourist Complex Maharashtra Tourism Development Corp (MTDC) ✔ ✔

Visitor Management System MTDC ✔ ✔

Sector Tourism Project Type Tourism Planning Project Title Master Plan Study of National Tourism Development in the Republic of Peru (Phase 1)

Location Whole Republic of Peru including 10 priority tourism development zones (PTDZ) designated for intensive study: Amazonas, Lambayeque/La Libertad/Cajamarca, Ancash, Tumbes/Piura, Lima, Puno, Ica, Arequipa

Client Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Integration and International Trade (MITINCI)/ JICA Project Period September 1998 – March 1999

Problems addressed by the Project Peru is world-famous for its prehispanic cultural heritage such as Inca, Moche, and Chavin, and it also has climatic extremes from the deserts of its Pacific Coast to the snow-capped Andean peaks and the tropical rain forests in the Amazon Basin. Although tourism started to grow with the improvement of security conditions from the mid-90s, the number of international visitor arrivals was still one of the smallest among Latin American countries (635,000 in 1997). In addition, tourism was concentrated in a few well-known destinations such as Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Nazca, which were suffering from overuse, while many other potential tourism sites had only limited visitation due to insufficient visitor facilities and infrastructure. Moreover, many nature and archaeological sites were in danger of deterioration due to poor management, limited funds for conservation and insufficient involvement of local communities.

Service Period OC Global performed an in-depth field study of the situation, which revealed the following: Relationship between tourism and local community was generally poor, and that this to be a cause of

damage by local people to nature and archaeological sites Available tourism services were evaluated to be too expensive for their quality

These points indicated the necessity to strengthen the capacity building system for tourism employees, entrepreneurs, as well as local people who are interested in tourism-related businesses. OC Global also formulated a Tourism Master Plan for Peru.

Actual Project Recommendations OC Global proposed that a triangular relationship be established between guests, hosts, and natural and cultural heritage, in which guests would finance their hosts for conservation. Implementation of the triangular relationship included 7 components as described below.

1. Formulation of Tourism Circuits OC Global proposed Northern and Southern Circuits, both connected to Lima. Necessary infrastructure to formulate the

tourism circuits was proposed as projects.

2. Diversification of Tourism Products Diversification of tourism products was needed to strengthen the competitiveness, and to ease congestion at a few destinations. Proposed tourism product ideas included: Amazon River cruise, a Prehispanic Routes Program for trekking and cultural tourism, resort developments in Tumbes and Piura, and a Wise Use Scheme for colonial cities.

3. Promotion of Local Participation Local participation is necessary for tourism to act as an economic incentive for conservation, as well as to inject local identity into tourism products. OC proposed measures to support tourism Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) including a micro-financing system, a licensing system for local people to be official guides, measures to promote handicraft, a scheme to promote village tourism based on “mura-okoshi” (the Japanese village activation movement), and facilities for capacity building.

4. Conservation with Self-Sufficiency Conservation plans should include tourism strategy for its financial viability, while tourism is expected to cooperate with those who work for conservation. OC Global proposed to introduce a national archaeological park system to Chan Chan, Sipan, Kuelap archaeological sites. OC Global also proposed “volunteer tours” to encourage volunteer participation in conservation and excavation activities, development of a museum database, and an ecotourism certification system which should help spread the correct idea of ecotourism.

5. Improvement of Visitor Facilitation Peru needed to improve tourism services, management, and infrastructure to help visitors travel comfortably. This included the improvement of “sense of arrival,” securing of tourist safety, visitor management systems, provision of tourist information, and installation of signs and interpretation boards. All these necessary items were packaged into a few programs for easier funding and implementation.

6. Reinforcement of Tourism Administration OC Global identified actions necessary to encourage decentralization and the separation of policy-making and project-implementation, and proposed: a mechanism for coordination among tourism-related government agencies, institution to support ecotourism, a financial assistance body for archaeological sites, and regional tourism corporations corresponding to the proposed spatial tourism structure.

7. Strengthening of Tourism Promotion OC Global recommended a tourism promotion strategy including measures to improve Peru’s tourism image, joint advertisement campaigns, and marketing supports for “alternative” tourism projects.

Sector Tourism Project Type Tourism Planning Project Title Master Plan Study of National Tourism Development in the Republic of Peru (Phase 2) Location Priority Tourism Development Zones of Tumbes, Piura, Chiclayo, and Trujillo Client Japan International Cooperationi Agency (JICA) Project Period November 1999 – January 2001

Problems addressed by the Project Peru is world-famous for its prehispanic cultural heritage such as Inca, Moche, and Chavin, and it also has climatic extremes from the deserts of its Pacific Coast to the snow-capped Andean peaks, and to the tropical rain forests in the Amazon Basin. Tourism was concentrated in a few well-known destinations such as Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Nazca, which were suffering from overuse, while many other potential tourism sites had only limited visitation due to insufficient visitor facilities and infrastructure, and many nature and archaeological sites were in danger of deterioration due to poor management and limited funds for conservation. Successfully completed Phase 1 Study suggested the importance of developing tourism in Northern Perudue to its tourism potential andnecessity for public-sector intervention. The Phase 2 Study focused on the elaboration and feasibility study of the proposed projects in the Northern Tourism Region, namely, the tourism corridors of Tumbes - Piura, Trujillo - Chiclayo, and Amazon River.

Service Period To conduct a feasibility study of projects chosen from the

projects proposals in the Phase 1 Study, to make it a case study that would facilitate implementation of other proposed projects of the Phase 1 Study

To transfer the skill and know-how of tourism planning to the Peruvian counterparts

The Study placed special importance to introduce measures to alleviate poverty and regional imbalance, and to envisage achieving tourism development that is harmonious with local communities.

Actual Project Recommendations The Study first set the tourism development framework based on the demand forecast, and the spatial tourism structure that was made up of the four planning levels of 1) Tourism Center, 2) One-day Trip Area, 3) Tourism Corridor, and 4) Tourism Region. Following projects were proposed, and evaluated from economic, financialand environmental perspectives.

1. Trujillo - Chiclayo Tourism Corridor Construction of the New Trujillo

Bypass Road Tourism Improvement of the Chan

Chan Archaeological Complex Tourism Improvement of Huacas del

Sol y la Luna Development of Parque de Baluarte Tourism Improvement of El Brujo

Archaeological Site Beautification of Historic Center of

Pacasmayo Circuit Road Improvement:

Ferreñafe – HuacaRajada - Cayalti Development of the Sipan

Archaeological Park Tourism Improvement of Batan

Grande Reserve Zone

2. Tumbes - Piura Tourism Corridor Development of the Hermosa Beach

Resort Estate Mangrove Tourism Improvement in

Puerto Pizarro Improvement of the Tumbes Airport Community Development of La

Encantada Ceramic Village

3. Amazon River Tourism Corridor Development of Allpahuayo - Mishana Museum Tourism Improvement of the Quistococha Tourist Complex Tourism Improvement of the San Juan Handicraft Market Construction of the Nauta Tourist Pier Construction of “Training Lodges” for the Pacaya–Samiria National Reserve

Other than the above, following arrangements were proposed to facilitate project implementation and to promote social development in project sites.

4. Institutional arrangements for project implementation The Study proposed the establishment of Project Coordination Unit (PCU) under the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Integration and International Trade (MITINCI) with staffs temporarily transferred from the Ministry of Presidency that has ample experience in implementing Yen-Loan projects.

5. Promotion of tourism-related SMEs The Study proposed measures to incubate tourism-related SMEs to benefit a wider range of people, which included the provision of financial supports combined with non-financial services, development of producers' market and handicraft training centres, and the setup of a fund to support tourism SMEs.

6. Establishment of a system to support local participation The Study proposed a system to support local participation, which included the organization of Implementation Committees at respective project sites with members from relevant government agencies and local communities, and the implementation of Participatory Tourism Support Program that was to provide tourism consultancy and training programs.

Sector Tourism Project Type Landuse planning

Project Title The Study for the Land Use Plan in the Coastal Zones of the Tourist Planning Units in the Republic of Costa Rica

Location South Guanacaste and Corcovado-Golfito Tourism Planning Unit in the Republic of Costa Rica

Client Institute Costarricense de Tourismo (ICT) / JICA Project Period January 2000 – January 2001

Coastal Zone in Costa Rica

Participatory Planning Workshop

Problems addressed by the Project Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in Costa Rica in terms of foreign currency earning and income generation. Tourism development is expected to contribute to employment generation. However, in Costa Rica’s coastal zones, tourism facilities and real estate development gradually increased and some of the tourism-related developments caused environmental destruction and deterioration of both land and marine components of the zones. Nonetheless, the government considered that the formulation of new tourism and land use master plans could avoid such problems and lead to guiding coastal tourism development in sustainable ways. Hence, in order to realize sustainable tourism development, the Government of Costa Rica requested the Government of Japan to prepare effective and implementable master plans of tourism development and land use for the coastal zones of South Guanacaste and Corcovado-Golfito.

Service Period Formulate land use plans in order to promote sustainable

tourism development in the coastal zones with a view to ensuring environmental quality

Prepare the necessary measures for sustainable tourism development

Carry out technology and knowledge transfer

Actual Project Recommendations Strategies for a new integrated regulatory plans for each tourism Establishment of an Institutional network for guiding private investment in tourism facilities Private investment promotion in tourism facilities Public investment promotion in infrastructure Local tourism promotion and community development Establishment and utilization of natural areas Importance of consultative and participatory process

General Land Use Plan of Samara-Carrillo Primary Tourism Center General Land Use Plan of Puerto Jimenez Primary Tourism Center

Sector Tourism/Architecture Project Type Tourism and cultural facilities Project Title National Museum Sub-Project under Tourism Sector Development Project (TSDP) Location Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Client Ministry of Public Works & Housing (MPWH) / JICA Project Period January 2005 – 2011

Problems addressed by the Project The National Museum Development was the second of six sub-projects selected for implementation from the Tourism Development Master Plan Study that was completed by JICA in February 1996. The National Museum was designed according to international standards as the primary cultural resource for Jordan to become a “must-see” attraction for first time foreign visitors to Jordan and a popular attraction for repeat visitors. Since the facility was to present a comprehensive story of Jordan’s history and culture, it had to function as an educational facility for children, a research and study base for academic scholars, a storage facility for the nation’s rich historical, archaeological and cultural objects, an urban recreation and entertainment facility, and a tourism facility to provide foreign visitors with overview information about Jordan. It was located in the newly redeveloped Amman City Plaza on Ali Bin AbiTaleb Street in Ras Al-Ein.

Service Period The Museum was designed with four exhibition galleries and other facilities as listed below.

The façade and forms of the building were designed to reflect the national taste and to harmonize with the existing buildings and surrounding environment as an iconic urban facility of Amman. The scale of the National Museum was based on the forecast that the facilities will receive 1,780 visitors daily. Moreover, since Jordan has a long history of earthquake disasters, the buildings were seismically designed to survive an earthquake of 50-year return period with maximum ground acceleration of 0.2 g. In addition, the facilities were designed to protect

Facilities Area (m2) Exhibition Halls 3,220 History Gallery 2,000 Royal Gallery 400 Cultural Gallery 400 Temporary Exhibit Gallery 420 Orientation Hall 160 Collection Management 2,730 Research & Study 580 Administration 350 Visitor Service 700 Auxilary Services 1,380 Outdoor Exhibition 700 Other landscaped areas 7.850 Total 17,670

archaeologically and historically important objects from damage, loss, burglary, and vandalism through the provision of appropriate security, fire protection, air-conditioning, lighting, etc. According to the geotechnical site investigation report, the bearing capacity and groundwater conditions meant that the Museum could be provided with a basement. The main access to the Museum is from Ali Bin AbiTaleb Street which the City Hall also faces. Parking spaces along the roadside could therefore be utilized. The exhibition facility was designed to be flexible enough to show the great variety and range of exhibits and highlight the materials, form, and weight of each object. It was designed to allow the possibility of extending or changing the collection for new acquisitions. The History Gallery was designed like a large auditorium or TV studio to obtain great flexibility in the exhibition system. The project was designed to generate revenue through increased average length of stay and foreign currency expenditure of international visitors to Amman. Another important function is to provide educational benefits for the entire population, including schoolchildren, through its portrayal of the nation’s history and culture.

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Sector Tourism Project Type Master Plan Project Title Study of National Tourism Development for the Republic of Guatemala

Location Whole country of Guatemala with the three priority development areas of El Peten, Las Verapaces, and Southwestern Highlands including Quetzaltenango

Client Guatemalan Tourism Commission (INGUAT)/ JICA Project Period December 2000 – May 2002

Problems addressed by the Project Guatemala is endowed with competitive and diverse tourism resources such as Mayan archaeological sites, tropical rain forests and wetlands, living indigenous cultures, and quaint colonial towns. Since the final peace agreement in 1996, Guatemalan Tourism Commission (INGUAT) has tried to promote tourism development. However, an adequate master plan was needed to achieve its tourism potential. Guatemala’s economy has been heavily dependent on agriculture, and the price fluctuation of traditional agro-products such as coffee and cardamom has severely affected the national economy in the past decades. Taking into account the growth rate of the primary sector, which is some 3% in the past years, Guatemala needed new engines for its economic growth. Tourism, which is the fastest growing economic sector in the world according to the World Tourism Organization, was viewed as an economic sector Guatemala has comparative advantage and as a solution to the above situation. While the poverty in rural areas has been a long-standing issue of the country, many of the most attractive tourism resources such as indigenous cultures, archaeological sites, forests and wetlands are located in rural areas. Therefore, tourism could also be a tool for rural development.

Service Period To prepare a national tourism master plan with the target year 2020 To choose Priority Tourism Development Areas (PTDAs) and to prepare their regional tourism master plans

with the target year 2020 To choose priority projects and conduct their feasibility study with the target year 2010 To transfer tourism planning skills to the counterparts team

Actual Project Recommendations 1. Conservation and social development with the use of tourism OC Global proposed to formulate a favourable cycle of tourism, in which tourism functions as an economic incentive to motivate local community to conserve natural and cultural heritage in their vicinity.Tourism development measures were presented in accordance with the respective corners of the triangle. Social development with tourism Community Tourism to revitalize local cultural traditions Co-Managementto manage tourism site with the

collaboration of stakeholders with different backgrounds Supports for accommodation development in rural

communities by promoting JV between NGO and hoteliers Cultivation of good host attitude in rural communities by

introducing an educational program

Adequatemanagement of tourism resources Improvement of archaeological tourismby prioritizing sites

for tourism and improving visitor management Wise use of historical cities, in which tourism generates fund for conservation and financial sustainability Green Accommodation Program to promote ecolodge development, agrotourism and private reserves Visitor management system with zoning and visitor flow control

Strengthening of the competitiveness of the tourism sector Certification system for sustainable tourism to disseminate environmental knowledge and facilitate marketing Supports for tourism SMEs through financial supports and consulting services and seminars Improvement of visitor facilitation including airport transport and operation of information centres Strengthening of tourism promotion including production of brochure and maps, hosting of events etc. Enforcement of tourism administration including the support to Local Tourism Committees

2. Plans for Priority Tourism Development Areas (PTDA) El Peten PTDA Basic development direction:

Diversification of archaeological tourism, resort development of Peten Itza, Integration of nature tourism and archaeological tourism, revitalization of cultural traditions, strengthening of tourism network Short-term pilot projects:

Tourism Improvement of the YaxháandNakúm Archaeological sites Tourism Improvement of the Ceibal and Aguateca Archaeological Sites Tourism Improvement of the Uaxactún Archaeological Site

Las Verapaces PTDA Basic development directions:

Protection of remaining forests for formulation of Verapaz Eco-Corridor, promotion of agrotourism, revitalization of cultural traditions, tourisms network improvement Short-term pilot projects:

Tourism Improvement of Sierra de Yalijux: trails, eco-lodge, infrastructure Development of the Pampacche Cloud Forest Park: visitor facilities, rail cart, eco-lodge Development of the Verapaz Eco-Corridor Interpretation Center: interpretation of eco-systems, environmental education, promotion and supports for agro-tourism and private reserves.

Southwestern Highlands PTDA Basic development directions:

Revitalization of cultural traditions with tourism,wise use of historical cities,tourism network development, tourism use of spa, volcanoes and nature tourism Short-term pilot projects:

Community Tourism Development in Momostenango: hot springs baths and accommodation, Poncho Textile Museum,Riscos Park, handicraft showcase, Maya culture experience house, Quiche cuisine restaurants

Sector Tourism/Architecture Project Type Project Implementation Management Project Title Tourism Resources Improvement Project Location Sigiriya, Anuradhahpura, NuwaraEliya, Negombo and Kandy in Srilanka Client Ministry of Tourism/ JICA Project Period October 2007 – May 2011

Problems addressed by the Project Tourism Resources Improvement Project(TRIP) was conceived by the Government of Sri Lanka to diversify its tourism that had depended heavily on beach tourism from Europeby improving culture and nature tourism. The Project calls for strengthening marketing and promotion of culture and nature tourism, improving infrastructure and human resource development, particularly targeting Asian market including Japan, thereby bringing socio-economic development and reduction of poverty in project areas that are mostly located inland. In response to the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, JICA (ex.JBIC) carried out a study in 2005 under JICA Special Assistance for Project Formation (SAPROF), and then, JICA appraisal of the Project and a Loan Agreement was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and JICA. The Project aimed to increase employment opportunities and foreign exchange earnings by promoting international (especially Japanese) tourists, improving tourism-related infrastructure and facilities, and developing human resources for the tourism sector in the six subproject regions, and conducting marketing and promotion activities in Japan.

Service Period Technical services for implementation of infrastructure development components in Sigiriya, Anuradhahpura,

Nuwara Eliya, Negombo and Kandy

Survey, planning, designing and bidding documents Bidding and bid evaluation Construction supervision and management of subproject implementation

Services for implementation of human resources development program for Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management

Overseas training of lecturers program Invitation of lecturers from overseas Train the trainers and hotel workers program Curriculum development

Services for implementation of community development program

Services for implementation of mitigation measures for environmental and social impacts

Actual Project Recommendations

Sector Tourism Project Type Technical Cooperation Project Project Title Project for the Capacity Development of Tourism Self-Management Committees Location Departments of Alta Verapaz, Baja Velapaz, and Peten, Guatemala Client Guatemalan Tourism Commission (INGUAT)/ JICA Project Period October 2007 – Mar 2010

Problems addressed by the Project Guatemala is endowed with competitive tourism resources such as Mayan archaeological sites, living indigenous cultures, colonial cities, wetlands and tropical rain forests. Although tourism has been recognized as a major "export" industry, tourists tended to concentrate in a few tourism centers, and many of the potential tourism resources located in rural areas were left unutilized. The project area was located between the famous tourism centers of Antigua Guatemala and Tikal/Flores, but most of the tourists were using airplane to travel between the tourism centers and few tourists were visiting rural areas that need measures for economic development to alleviate poverty that was a major cause of deforestation and tourism resources degradation. JICA conducted the Study of National Tourism Development in 2002, which emphasized the importance of local participation. As a response to the study, the Government of Guatemala introduced Tourism Self-Management Committees (Comités de Autogestión Turística - CATs) in January 2005 with purposes to decentralise tourism administration, incorporate local ideas for tourism development, and promote local participation in tourism. Under such circumstances, the Government of Guatemala requested the Government of Japan to conduct a technical cooperation project, which aimed to develop the capacity of CATs, to foster cooperation among relevant institutions, and to achieve conservation and social development through tourism.

Service Period Analysis of existing conditions to identify tourism, environmental and social issues to be addressed by the

project, which was conducted by hosting workshops for "problem analysis" at the municipality level Preparation of strategy and action plans based on the participatory workshops for "objective" and

"stakeholder" analysis Capacity development with the provision of training programs Implementation of action plan consisting of the four pillars of 1) strengthening of organization capacity, 2)

tourism product development, 3) tourist infrastructure and services, and 4) marketing and promotion

Actual Project Recommendations Identification of a tourism corridor connecting Antigua Guatemala and Flores/Tikal, and the branding of the

corridor as the "Ruta de Quetzales (Route of Quetzals)" to facilitate tourism promotion

Introduction of "co-management," which is an institutional arrangement to managea tourism destination with the participation of stakeholders with different backgrounds such as tourism businesses, institutions for conservations, local government and NGOs

Actual Project Activities 1. Strengthening of organization capacity Preparation of CAT organization

brochures to clarify the visions and missions of the committee, publicize its establishment, and facilitate fund raising

Hosting seminars for CAT members to collect tourism statistics, which was also intended to collect PDM indices

Preparation of a CAT operation manual to facilitate technical transfer to other areas of Guatemala

Hosting of tourism seminars for local government officers to increase tourism awareness and interest

Hosting of seminars to promote tourism investment in and around protected areas

Organization of a study trip to Mexico to learn advanced tourism knowhow, to learn the Mexican market, and to promote Guatemala among the Mexican travel trade

Organization of a study trip to Japan to learn Japanese success stories

2. Tourism product development Hosting of handicraft and

gourmet seminars to improve the quality, and to promote new product development.

Preparation of community maps to facilitate tourists to explore rural communities, and to increase the awareness of history and heritage among local people, which was produced with the participation of local people

Hosting of marketing seminars to promote tourism product development, which consisted of tourism market, tourism planning, and tourism promotion seminars

3. Tourist infrastructure and services Lobbying forroad construction among local government, road authorities, and donors to establish the Ruta de

Quetzales Lobbying for road construction in border areas to improve the Mundo Maya Circuit Improvement of tourist facilities at Najtunich Caves in Peten, Quetzal observation areas in Alta Verapaz, and

the preparation of manual for operation and maintenance Marketing promotion Hosting of COMPETUR (tourism event) for tourism promotion, for business negotiation between the tourism

service providers and tour operators/travel agents, and for the exchange of ideas and opinions among those involved in tourism, which was also combined with a familiarization trip for Mexican tour operators.

Preparation of tourism product brochures and the project web site for tourism promotion