Venezuela, Mercosur assess tourism promotion plan

Venezuelan and Southern Common Market (Mercosur) officials met Tuesday in Caracas to evaluate a plan on boosting international tourism to the South American nation. Venezuelan Tourism Minister Andres Izarra discussed related strategies with Georthon Branquinho, the representative of Mercosur's Tourism Promotion Office in Japan. Branquinho arrived in Venezuela in early February, visiting tourism sites, such as Cachamay and La Llovizna parks in southern Bolivar state, as part of a regional tour to promote South America's natural attractions to a growing Asian market. In earlier February, Izarra said Venezuela aimed to become a tourism destination for the Asian market by joining Mercosur's office in Tokyo. He also met with Venezuela's ambassadors to China and Japan to draw up strategies to attract visitors from these countries. Mercosur, a regional trade and integration bloc, consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.