Guilds ask to declare tourism in Cusco an emergency and protect Machu Picchu

He political conflict which concatenates with the protests and the road blockade has put the sector Tourism on the verge of debacle with huge million-dollar losses. The operators of said productive chain are part of this reality, demanding that the government of the president Dina Boluarte declare an emergency tourism in Cusco and protect Machu Picchu. In this way, they consider that, if the measure is approved, the financial rescue to stop the economic crisis they have been facing for more than 50 days.

This petition was formulated by the Technical Consultative Collective of the Private Sector of Cusco Tourism to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur)Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), with the aim of issuing a pronouncement in the short term.

This was reported by the president of the Peruvian Association of Tourism Entrepreneurs (apemtur)Richard Velásquez to La República, who highlighted the importance of timely actions to reduce the Financial impact in those who integrate the value chain of tourism activity. For example, travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, guides, tourist transport, artisans, porters and others.

“He tourism industry suffers an untimely stoppage in the provision of services, which led to the cancellation of 4,000 hotel reservations, losses of S/13 million a day and refund of money to tourists who had decided to visit Machu Picchu”, said the businessman.

Although he specified that there is no timely response from the Government to support the tourism sector. “It causes us surprise and concern that neither the Executive nor the Legislature execute actions so that this serious crisis ends, since it affects 150,000 people. There is uncertainty,” Velásquez emphasized.

When asked what the declaration of an emergency for tourism would imply, Richard Velásquez indicated that there would be moratoriums on the loans of Reactive and FAE Tourismand exoneration of the IGV to achieve the recovery of tourism companies in the Cusco region.

intangible zones

He also considered that it is necessary that the areas adjacent to Macchu Picchu be declared intangible to prevent roads from being blocked to protesters, which, he said, scared away tourists. Such is the case —he stressed— that more than 10 countries have recommended their citizens not to visit Peru because it is unsafe.

He even stated that a massive campaign abroad should be considered on the image of Peru to regain the trust of travelers. Finally, Richard Velásquez said that he fears that the measures of protests be of greater magnitude because, for this Thursday, February 9, civil organizations have announced mobilizations.