“If we wanted to replicate this size we have – the expansion of Guatemagic as a tourist destination – they could not invest less than Q3 thousand 500 million. Imagine, here we are truly talking about development. When they want to do something good, think they have to spend money and that they have to do well and planned.”
The president of the Institute for Workers Recreation (IRTRA), Ricardo Castillo Sinibaldi, is overwhelmed by serving a free press team in Retalhuleu.
The visit was part of a coverage related to Guatemagic, the plan in Takalik Abaj to attract more visitors, along with other IRTRA projects, which have to do with a hotel and a convention center.
Castillo Sinibaldi believes that the big projects are made by people and not the laws. This is an extract of conversation with the entrepreneur.
What worries you of human capital in the department of Retalhuleu?
When we started building, we get very few work masters. So, we had to train 50 work teachers. There were no good masons, we improved them and trained 300 masons. That was from the beginning, and then we have left a permanent training program. Then, Training of waiters, keys of keys, waitresses, garden workers, and specializing each in the management of birds, horses and cows.
We are very concerned that we do not find in Guatemala people qualified for each of those positions. That is what we really should worry. Intecap is working in many fields so that qualified labor can be seen and Guatemala can produce cheaper.
What should we accelerate for companies to find human capital?
It is a philosophy of thinking like development. We must think that, to make a development, we must have qualified labor, places where companies, entrepreneurs who want to come to establish themselves in those places, laws that give advantages and privileges to the different activities, and a government that understands what a country needs to train to train.
How do you see Guatemagic and tourism development in five years?
I see it very positive, because those who are in Guatemagic, as they are close to IRTRA and know what the projects are, have tried to make investments, have new hotels and places where they can have fun. We have something already in Abaj Takalik and Champerico, we have already gathering many so that we can offer entertainment in the area. We have a farm where you currently have Quetzal; They can go see the quetzal. So, we are trying to make this place much more interesting in tourism and recreation. And that is what we are offering, and Guatemagic is, say, the organization that is grouping everyone and trying to give the facilities that it may have so that it can become a fun and capacity center.
What is needed from public action, from the Executive and Legislative, so that all this vision of Guatemagic can grow in the next 5 years?
I would not want to talk about five years; I’m going to talk about 50 years, because that is the problem. For many years we have not had the vision of development. When the 44 revolution came, for example, Guatemala had a train, had an airport that was international, had companies that cultivated and exported fruit. And because of the policies that existed, these were disappearing. For example, the train: I think it is the best heavy transport that a country can have. However, in Guatemala, what did they do? Kill the train, until it ended. And today, the current president wants to renew it. It will be very difficult. All train lines are invaded. All large bridges and the lines have been stolen.
And then the roads. Before there were roads throughout the Republic, it is true, of a lane, but they arrived. Today, they started making four lanes, they no longer give themselves some of them, and others have not finished them. So, I do not think they are so many resources, if we lack intention, I want to really be done. And that is what we must look for: that our rulers and the people who are in economic development, representatives of the private sector, get together and see that. That they realize that Guatemala needs to unify criteria to develop, and people with an open mentality. Remove from policies and people who have some deviation towards some of them, because that only does is damage.
What do you think are the laws that allow the development of the country to advance?
The laws are not what do things, it is people. I have never believed that you have to make a law. Look how many laws we have to be there, no one uses them. What we need is that we really intend to do the development. The intention that we want Guatemala to appear in the headlines of the world, but not as bad, as we appear now, but as good: as we have good product, that we have good people, that we are attentive, that we are creative, that we welcome people.
So, I believe that the less laws are done, the less problems we have.
Do you think something would change if we had a Ministry of Tourism as such?
I think, if we did not have the Inguat, it would be better. The less we have people who want to get better, they will be better, because they already begin with that such regulations have to put and do such a thing. Because? Because the institution exists. Tourism is created alone. Tourism will not create it like that. See tourism in the world. The big cities have a tourism per se, they have their lives. Then, the beaches have tourism. The casinos. Sports. And now in the world they are growing – the tourism of – the fun parks. That has tourism. So how did they create it? The only thing is that they wanted to do it, but they did not need a law, they did not need any of that.
Since the General Directorate of Tourism was born until today, we have never received any help. What we have received is interference.
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