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(...) In view of its high biodiversity levels Guatemala was designated a megadiverse country in 2010 at the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. These features make Guatemala a very attractive destination for a large number of tourism segments.

The Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) is a facilitating body with responsibility for governing, promoting and encouraging the sustainable development of tourism at national and international level by coordinating actions across the public and private sectors and civil society.

As part of that role to coordinate the work of tourism stakeholders and make Guatemala a world class destination, INGUAT (Guatemalan Institute of Tourism) oversaw the drafting and launch of the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2015 2025. It is an important planning tool comprising various sectoral development programmes that will be in place for ten years.

In the most recent Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index published every two years by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Guatemala's ranking was up 17 places in 2015. When broken down into its component categories, the greatest progress was made in (…) the number of protected areas and known species ; (...)

The ANC (National Competitiveness Agenda) 2012 2021 was drawn up on the basis of a wide ranging public private dialogue and is divided into the following strategic priority areas that have been identified as key to measures that will generate inclusive growth. These areas are: a healthy, educated, skilled, inclusive society; stronger, modern institutions; social and environmental sustainability; decentralization and local development; a stronger production and technology infrastructure; stronger industry.

Guatemala has notified the WTO that it does not have an import licensing system as such, but the import of certain products is subject to special administrative formalities, including the granting of prior import permits, as laid down in various laws and regulations. These products include: fuels and bituminous materials; inorganic or organic compounds of precious metals, radioactive elements, rare-earth metals or isotopes; (...)

(...) The import of genetically modified products is not prohibited.

The energy sector, above all the electricity industry, has expanded in recent years, supported by appreciable investment flows and incentives for the development of renewable energies. (...)

The National Competitiveness Agenda (2012 2021), adopted in 2012, is another of the instruments governing trade policy. The Agenda sets out various strategic guidelines, including in particular institutional modernization and strengthening, development of infrastructure (primarily in transport, energy and telecommunications) and the sustainable management of natural resources. (...)

The National Development Plan K'atun establishes national development policy for the period 2016 2032, taking account of its sociocultural, economic, territorial, environmental and political dimensions, and thus complements the general framework for the formulation of Guatemala's foreign trade policy.