Bolivia: Che tourism

It always gets worse before it gets better. You can stop one kid wearing a Che t-shirt, explain the truth about the murderous bastard, and he may or may not get it. But if he does, you've just turned around a mistaken soul. However, what happens when an entire nation, one of the sorriest poorest nations in the world starts to think that Che is one way out of their economic plight.

Bolivia sees glint of gold in Che Guevara's footsteps

By Bernd Debusmann, Special Correspondent

CAMIRI, Bolivia (Reuters) - The spirit of capitalist enterprise is flourishing in the footsteps of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the Argentine-born Cuban revolutionary who died in his unsuccessful attempt to bring communism to Bolivia.
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Enterprising Bolivians think the time is ripe to expand tourism by increasing the trickle of international leftists who travel to Bolivia to pay homage to Che. He was shot in 1967, at the age of 39, and became a revolutionary icon.

"There are great conditions now to develop the (Che) business," said Karen Wachtel, who owns the Chaco Guarani Tours travel agency and played a key role in developing the "Che trail" which connects the landmarks of Guevara's guerrilla campaign.

"The left is gaining strength in Latin America and here in Bolivia, there is a much, much talk about Che Guevara."

Bolivia's leftist president, Evo Morales, hung a huge portrait of Che Guevara in the presidential palace after he took office in January and the revolutionary leader is often mentioned in speeches by members of the ruling Movement Towards Socialism. But it is small entrepreneurs, not a socialist state, who are looking to profit from Che Guevara.

The way to do that, tourism operators say, is to offer tours that combine left-wing pilgrimage with adventurous eco-tourism -- on foot, horseback or four-wheel-drive vehicle -- through rugged mountain areas which have barely changed over the past 40 years. Read the rest here.

And don't forget the souvenirs.

Its offers "Che T-shirts, Che tank tops, Che club shirts, Che hoodies, Che headwear, Che military wear, Che collectibles, Che clearance, Che new titles, Che top sellers, Che books, Che DVDs/videos, Che music, Che posters."