Festival Tourism through Intellectual Property: Proposal by Bolivia in the WIPO

By PPO Abogados

Bolivia submitted a proposal for a pilot project titled “Promoting the Development of Festival Tourism through Intellectual Property” for consideration at the thirty-fourth session of the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which took place in Geneva from May 5 to 9, 2025.

Cultural festivals—such as the Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia—offer significant opportunities for local and national development by attracting tourists, generating commercial impact, and creating a positive image. Intellectual Property (IP) tools can help such festivals establish a unique identity and gain both local and international visibility.

Cultural festivals play a vital role in enhancing the appeal of host cities and reinforcing their distinct identities by anchoring cultural activities in local traditions and spaces. They act as powerful catalysts for local economic revitalization, regardless of their size or scope.

Their success often depends on cultural heritage, reputation, image, and brand recognition, as illustrated by renowned events such as the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Festival of Lights (Diwali) in India, the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco, the Day of the Dead in Mexico, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Cultural festivals also serve as living laboratories for innovation, where traditional practices intersect with contemporary expressions, fostering creativity and intercultural dialogue. This dynamic environment not only enriches the local cultural landscape but also positions the host city as a center of creativity and cultural exchange, further enhancing its appeal to both residents and tourists. Moreover, festivals foster deep connections with the destination by offering immersive experiences rooted in local culture, history, and traditions.

In addition, the wide range of experiences and activities offered by festivals—including traditional cultural expressions, music, artistic performances, masquerades, exhibitions, and religious customs—demonstrates a fascinating intersection where IP protection, tourism development, and economic growth converge.

Yet, despite their immense potential, the role of IP in shaping and sustaining cultural festivals remains largely unexplored and underutilized—particularly in developing countries.

Bolivia's proposal seeks to bridge this gap by ensuring that cultural festivals can fully benefit from the strategic use of IP to enhance their visibility, sustainability, and long-term impact.

The overall objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of cultural festival organizers in beneficiary countries to promote the development of festival tourism through IP rights, while respecting local traditions and culture.

Intended Outcomes:

1. Increased understanding among key stakeholders—including cultural festival organizers and local authorities—of the importance of IP in developing festival tourism.

2. Enhanced capacity of cultural festival organizers to use IP rights to promote festival tourism in beneficiary countries.

Project Outputs:

• Output 1 – A mapping/assessment of relevant IP rights that could be used to organize, execute, and promote the selected cultural festival in each beneficiary country.

• Output 2 – A practical action plan based on this assessment, preferably involving collective tools such as collective marks, to promote the selected cultural festival in each beneficiary country.

• Output 3 – Practical training and awareness-raising activities on the role of IP in promoting the development of festival tourism.