Autumn Stevens

Issues Honors

Guatemala
Population: 14,647,083

Square Miles: 108,889 km2

Exports: $9.864 billion

1. What is Guatemala most known for?

a. Natural beauty, ancient ruins, and cuisine.
2. Who is Guatemalas main export recipient?
a. The United States of America (43.51%)
3. What is Guatemalas main export?
a. Coffee (9.69%)
4. What are some of the main attractions of Guatemala?
a. Tikal Temples (Mayan Ruins)
i. Situated in the lowland rainforest of northern Guatemala, Tikal is
one of the top tourist attractions in Guatemala due to its beauty and ancient wonders. The
name Tikal translates as Place of Voices (sometimes, Place of Tongues) and once
boasted a bustling population of a quarter million or more. Today, however, all that is left
of this ancient metropolis are a number of beautiful Mayan ruins. The city is surrounded
by a large wildlife preserve, full of monkeys, parrots, deer, macaws and other incredible
specimens. Youll need to set aside a minimum of two days for a thorough exploration of
this natural gem.
b. Lake Atitlan
i. Lake Atitln was described by Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful
lake in the world. Situated in the Guatemalan highlands, the lake is a stunning exhibition
of natural splendor. The portal to Lake Atitln, the city of Pananajachel, is also a portal to
an indigenous world of the Mayans and other ancient peoples. It is a beautiful area, with
many tourist attractions, opportunities for exploration, scuba diving and learning Spanish.
c. Chichicastenango Market
i. Often shortened to Chichi, this is THE shopping destination of
Guatemala. Located between two and three hours southwest of Guatemala City, ChiChi
may be home to the brightest and most vibrant native market in all of the Americas. With
a vast array of local fabrics, textiles, clothing, masks, wood-crafted items, pottery and
even fireworks, theres no reason that anyone should leave Chichicastenango Market
empty handed. The city is also famous for their ability to celebrate and often host
festivals, feasts and fiestas which tourists are welcomed to share in.
d. Flores
i. Flores is a located on Lake Petn Itz and connected to land by a
causeway, on the other side of which lie the twin towns Santa Elena and San Benito. It
was here, on the island of Flores, that the last independent Maya state held out against the
Spanish conquerors. For many tourist, the main reason to visit Flores is its proximity to
the famous Maya ruins of Tikal. But the island city itself is a great Guatemala tourist
attraction, filled with colonial, red-roofed buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, a historic
church and many hotels and restaurants.
5. When is the best time to travel to Guatemala?
a. In general, the best time of year to visit weather-wise is in December and January,
when everything is still green from the rains, but the sky is clear. If you want to avoid the
crowds, I recommend traveling during "shoulder" periods, near the end or beginning of the rainy
season, when the weather is still pretty good. Note: Some of the country's rugged roads become
downright impassable without four-wheel-drive during the rainy season (frommers.com).

Autumn Stevens
Issues Honors

6. What languages are most spoken in Guatemala?

a. Spanish (official) 60%
b. Amerindian languages (native) 40%
7. What vaccinations should one receive before traveling to Guatemala?
a. Routine vaccinations (Measles, Tetanus, Chicken Pox, Polio, Flu)
b. Recommended: Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Yellow Fever
8. How literate is the population of Guatemala?
a. 75.9%
9. How easy is it to travel in Guatemala?
a. 291 airports
b. Railways are available
c. Cars and roadways are present
d. Waterways are navigatable
10. What natural hazards should one be aware of in Guatemala?
a. Volcanoes in mountains, occasional violent earthquakes, hurricanes and tropical
storms on Caribbean coast

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Issues Honors

If the demand for specialty coffee drinks--primarily composed of

coffee and sugar--in the United States continue to soar, then the
Guatemalan people, employed or involved in the coffee and sugar
production industries, will benefit with additional income and
prosperity.
EXPORTS
Materials:
Coffee 9.69%, $1.11 billion
Raw Sugar 9.12%, $1.04
billion
Bananas 7.12%, $813 million
Clothing $1.43 billion
Gold 5.05%, $576 million

Energy:
Electricity 193.3 million kWh
Crude Oil 10,960 bbl/day
Refined Petroleum Products
4,911 bbl/day
Natural Gas none

Destinations by Country:
Destinations by Continent:
United States 43.57%, $4.97
North America 80.01%, $9.14
billion
billion
El Salvador 9.03%, $1.03
Europe 7.73%, $882 million
billion
Asia 6.13%, $700 million
Honduras 6.51%, $744 million
South America 4.33%, $494
Mexico 5.55%, $634 million
million
1.

2.
3.
4.

Why do some people oppose globalization, and why are some people in favor of it?
a. Oppose: The country with the buyer also has an unemployed person, whereas the
country with the supplier has an employed man resulting in more income. Rarity of items
decreases as they are now readily available.
b.
Favor: Increases variety of a specific item (i.e. coffee), and because supply
increases, price begins to decrease.
How can Americans be conscientious consumers in a global world?
a. Make it a priority to buy local and regional. When necessary to reach out globally,
be educated in purchases and effects it has on local economy.
Is globalization a path to a brighter future?
a. It is a path to a future, not necessarily a brighter or darker one. This depends on
whether one favors globalization and the impact it has on the local economy.
Why do countries view global issues from different perspectives?

Autumn Stevens
Issues Honors

The countrys perspective on global issues depends on if their people and economies are benefiting from them.
If a country is experiencing low wages due to the globalization of a product, they will have a negative
perspective. A country that is experiencing high wages due to globalization of a product will have a positive and
encouraging perspective.

Autumn Stevens
Issues Honors

~Guatemala has positioned itself as a marketing leader with worldwide recognition for its specialty coffee.
United States continues as Guatemala's biggest export market, accounting for 49 percent of its total coffee
exports. -Global Agricultural Information Network
~The Antigua Valley of Guatemala is treasured for its 100-year-old farms, nutrient-rich volcanic soil and its
coffee, which is the touchstone of quality. Farmers take enormous pride in traditions they've passed on for
generations. As a result, the coffee you experience is rich and multidimensional, with a flavor that's consistent,
cup after cuplemon, chocolate and soft spice notes with an elegant mouthfeel unique to this region. It's why
we loved this coffee back in '71, and why we love it today. -Starbucks
~In the same National Coffee Drinking Study, 54% of adults age 25-39 reported drinking coffee each day,
another significant increase from the 44% who reported drinking coffee daily during 2010. -National Coffee
Association
~While the percentage of restaurants that offer coffee rose across the board in the 2007-2011 period, especially
notable is the increased presence of specialty coffee drinks such as cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos, and
Macchiatos. Macchiato penetration has risen by over 50% since 2007, according to Datassential MenuTrends
Direct data.

(Guatemalan Coffees.com)

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(Gross National Income Graph)

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Guatemala Agricultural Map

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Guatemala Topographical Map

Autumn Stevens
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Works Cited
http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Guatemala.html
http://www.enjoyguatemala.com/ruins.htm
http://atlas.media.mit.edu/profile/country/gtm/
http://www.touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-guatemala/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/guatemala/274584#sthash.u4f3CAYr.dpbs#ixzz3UqwZz7Gv
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gt.html
http://www.guatemalancoffees.com/index.php/exports
http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Coffee%20Annual_Guatemala
%20City_Guatemala_5-18-2010.pdf
http://store.starbucks.com/guatemala-antigua/011028499,default,pd.html
http://www.anacafe.org/glifos/index.php/P%C3%A1gina_principal
http://www.sbdcnet.org/small-business-research-reports/coffee-shop-2012