Discover Bolivia

Parque de las Memorias - new National FIAT-IFTA Member  

By Nicolás Andrade, CEO of Parque de las Memorias, Bolivia

I am Nicolás Andrade, with over 15 years in the funeral industry. For the past nine years, I have served as CEO of Parque de las Memorias, one of Bolivia’s leading private cemetery and funeral service providers. My focus has been on modernizing funeral services while respecting cultural traditions.

Beyond my role, I have contributed at a regional and global level, serving two terms on the board of ALPAR and collaborating on international research for FIAT-IFTA. In Kyoto, Japan, I worked with the All Japan Funeral Association and Koekisha Company to analyse industry trends.

Before joining this sector, I worked as a consultant, project manager, analyst, and operations manager in various industries. My business degree from Mexico provided me with strategic expertise, helping me drive innovation while preserving Bolivia’s funeral traditions.

Bolivia’s funeral sector is relatively young, with private cemeteries operating for only 37 years. The industry continues evolving under cultural, economic, and consumer influences.

Key characteristics include strong adherence to Catholic and indigenous traditions, a preference for traditional burials, and increasing demand for personalized services. Key statistics:

• Cemetery Distribution: 60% public, 40% private.
• Funeral Home Distribution: 90% private, 10% social/public.
• Mortality Rate: 9 deaths per 1,000 people annually.
• Cremation Rate: Historically 1%, now around 6% post-pandemic.

The industry faces three major challenges:

1. Regulatory Compliance: Adapting to evolving laws while promoting clear, fair regulations.
2. Land Use Constraints: Expanding cremation services to address cemetery space limitations.
3. Consumer Awareness: Educating families about pre-need planning and cremation options.

Parque de las Memorias is a leading private funeral provider, offering pre-need planning, personalized memorialization, and modern tribute halls for meaningful ceremonies. Our highly trained team includes grief professionals for emotional support, legal counsellors for administrative guidance, and conscious food catering for culturally appropriate services. We have also expanded into pet memorialization. Our pet membership program covers cremation and offers lifetime benefits to support pet owners. Through FIAT-IFTA, we gain access to global expertise and collaboration, enhancing Bolivia’s funeral industry with best practices.

As Bolivia evolves, so does its funeral industry. Balancing tradition with modernization will shape how Bolivians honour their loved ones while adapting to new needs and expectations.

Parque de las Memorias
www.parquedelasmemorias.com
Contact us: nandrade@parquedelasmemorias.com