page_title: Mérida (state)
section_title: Economy
hierarchical_section_title: Mérida (state) / Economy
caption_attribution_description: English: plow land to grow vegetables
context_page_description: The State of Mérida commonly known simply as Mérida', IPA: ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Mérida, in the Libertador Municipality.
  Located in the Western Andean Region, Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 square kilometres, making it the fifteenth-largest in Venezuela. In 2011, had a census population of 828,592, the fourteenth most populous.
context_section_description: The main economic activities are agriculture, tourism, livestock, agribusiness, trout farming, service activities associated with the University of the Andes and the regional and national government. Merida is one of the great cultural, artisan and university centers of the country.
  It is the first state producer of celery, potatoes, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots, garlic, beets and cabbage in the country. It also stands out for the cultivation of peas, cambures, bananas, caraotas, tomatoes, yucca, cocoa, and coffee.
  In the livestock sector, highlights in cattle (meat), pigs and poultry. The fishing activity has acquired great importance through the breeding of trout in rivers, lagoons and streams.
  The industries present in the entity are mainly: food products, clothing and domestic utensils. The tourist sector is very relevant, as it has a very good infrastructure.
  There is a great variety of shops and services that also contribute to Merida's economy.
  An important factor in the economy is a wide range of handcrafted articles, such as: wool fabrics in the manufacture of beautiful blankets, wood carvings of original sculptures, clay articles, typical sweets, wines, punches and handcrafted liquors made with fruits grown in the region. Most of the tourists acquire these products, generating an additional income to the state.
  The economy is complemented by income from tourism. The cable car system, being the highest and longest in the world, attracts thousands of people every year who venture to climb to the vicinity of Pico Bolivar. In addition, Merida is rich in natural attractions, you only need to climb the trans-Andean highway to enjoy the beauty of the moor. For this, and many other reasons, it is one of the preferred tourist destinations for Venezuelans and foreigners.
  Another important industry is the hotel industry. The entire state of Merida is equipped with an excellent hotel infrastructure. There are mountain hotels with cabin service, equipped with playgrounds, riding horses, artificial lakes for fishing and many other services that satisfy the most demanding tourists.
caption: Cattle in the state of Merida
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