Double loss. A few days ago it was learned that FIFA decided to withdraw the headquarters of the Under 17 World Cup from Peru. sporting event It had been declared of national interest in May 2022, during the government of Pedro Castillo. However, the arguments of the highest governing body of world football weighed more: delays in the start of infrastructure works, remodeling of stadiums and havoc caused by weather phenomena occurred in our country.
For the sports management expert Julio Quispe, this provision will generate negative consequences for Peru in three axes: economic, sports and image of the country.
As he explained, for this competition —scheduled to take place between November 10 and December 2 of this year—, 24 delegations organized into six groups of four teams each would have attended, which would involve several venues located in different cities of the country.
Elias Aguirre Stadium. In January, the regional governor of Lambayeque highlighted the need for his city to host this tournament. Photo: Andean
“We have lost the possibility of reactivating tourism, the use of hotels, restaurants and air and land transport,” expressed the also professor of the career of Administration and Finance of the ESAN University.
Each delegation is made up of players, coaching staff and managers who together comprise around 50 people. This would have generated the consumption of tourist services of at least 1,200 people for 20 days. “Translating only into stay, (we would have earned) approximately US$2,400,000,” the expert calculated.
indirect benefits
The expert commented that this decision by FIFA will have an impact on the designations of future venues and organizations of other soccer events such as South American, Pan American, World Cups, Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana finals, among others.
“These sports events are not only attractive to football fans, but also generate income for the industry in general: foreign fans travel to the venue of the event and consume transportation, hotel, restaurants, attendance at the stadiums, shirts, merchandising,” he said.
country image
On the other hand, Julio Quispe maintained that the image of the country is deteriorated with this measure, because the execution of the Under 17 World Cup was an opportunity to give the signal that in the Peru world-wide sporting events can be organized and, at the same time, receive tourists and delegations from all continents.
“The social events that have occurred in recent weeks have diminished the image of Peru, being cataloged, by some countries, as a dangerous country as a tourist destination. For this reason, this event would have helped reverse that image and reactivate tourism, which is badly hit,” he emphasized.
The case of the Pan American Games in Lima 2019
The Pan American and Parapan American Games held in Lima in 2019 positively impacted the economy through the consumption. According to Peruvian Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), around 50,000 foreign tourists arrived in Peru and 100,000 visitors from different regions of the country were mobilized for this great event, which translated into some S/1,155 million in income.
In the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, 2,000 jobs were generated in 302 mypes. Photo: AFP
Source: Larepublica
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