Guatemala Today

Guatemala is very different today from what it was only thirty years ago. Progress has been difficult and slow. Nonetheless, steps by step, one sector of the society after another have moved forward. Social differences are still very marked in the Guatemalan mentality. Attempt to make peace have matured intelligently, improving relations and encouraging harmony between the various opposed groups.

The 1980s have been described as a "lost decade" for Guatemala — coups, corruption and conflict were the order of the day. It seems however that Guatemala enters the 21st century with solid achievement behind it as the end of the guerilla confrontations. The indigenous groups are beginning to play a leading part, and one example of this is the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 to the Quiche native Rigoberta Menchu.

There are now new opportunities and new avenues for trade and foreign investment. Many investors see Guatemala as a country with promising future for agriculture and manufacturing industry, and as a nation primarily exporting agricultural products, Guatemala now faces new challenge. The country must become highly competitive in the production of goods and services of high quality, and must be able to insert them into an expanding market.

Although Guatemala, as other Central American countries with an Army and guerillas confrontation left behind, some problems of public order are the remnant of the turbulent past, has also been affected in the eyes of the tourists, the realities often been exaggerated. Fortunately, the situation becomes more stable every day and there is now greater peace and tranquility, and important progress is being made.

It is also true on the other hand that a good part of the revenue is generate through the tourism industry, which will contribute to bring the authority and entrepreneur to work together to create new destinations, formation of skill manpower and preservation of the natural beauty of Guatemala.