Upon taking office, Santa María presented a strategy aimed at positioning Paraguay as a destination capable of attracting greater tourism investment. His proposals included the development of innovative, high-impact policies, the introduction of next-generation theme parks and the creation of technology-driven entertainment complexes, initiatives intended to strengthen the country’s tourism offering and improve its competitiveness within South America.
One of the most prominent objectives outlined at the beginning of his tenure concerned the expansion of international tourism. While existing projections envisaged Paraguay reaching two million tourists by 2030, Santa María proposed raising the country’s ambitions considerably by setting a target of 10 million visitors by 2037. The proposal reflected an aggressive growth strategy whose future is now subject to the priorities established by the new tourism leadership.
The institutional response to the resignation was immediate. On Wednesday, August 12, Javier Eduardo Ramírez Valdez was appointed executive secretary of the National Secretariat of Tourism, Senatur, replacing Santa María under Presidential Decree 6568. With the appointment, the government opted for a professional from within the institution who has extensive experience at the agency responsible for overseeing Paraguay’s national tourism policies.
Ramírez Valdez, 41, has accumulated 19 years of experience as a career public official. His professional background covers areas including public administration, tourism planning and development, interinstitutional coordination and the international promotion of Paraguay as a destination. His extensive knowledge of Senatur’s internal operations could help ensure administrative continuity following such a rapid change in leadership.
Throughout his career, he has held several positions within the institution. These include head of Information Services, director of Tourism Services and director general of Tourism Products. Prior to his latest appointment, he served as director general of Tourism Management, a position from which he was directly involved in activities related to the development and operation of the country’s tourism industry.
His academic background combines international trade, higher education and public administration. He holds a degree in International Trade from the National University of Asunción and has completed a specialization in Higher Education Teaching. He also pursued postgraduate studies in Governance, Political Management and Public Administration at Columbia University of Paraguay, where he earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs and Governance.
His professional experience also includes participation in trade missions, tourism fairs and international events. Ramírez Valdez has been involved in both tourism promotion activities and initiatives representing Paraguay in foreign markets, an area of particular importance for a country seeking to strengthen its international profile and attract a growing number of overseas visitors.
The leadership transition now opens a new chapter for Senatur and raises questions about the continuity of initiatives introduced over recent months. Santa María’s brief tenure leaves several of the ambitious objectives announced at the beginning of his administration unresolved, while his successor will now have to establish the priorities that will shape tourism policy during this new phase.
At the same time, Ramírez Valdez brings a profile closely connected to the institution’s day-to-day operations. His technical knowledge and experience in tourism promotion, planning and development will be important assets during this period of transition. Following an unexpected resignation and an administration lasting only a few months, Paraguay will now seek to preserve the stability of its tourism strategy, maintain ongoing projects and continue strengthening the country’s position in the international travel market.
