They seek to establish long holidays by law to promote internal tourism

the congresswoman Adriana Tudelafrom the Avanza País bench, proposes that the figure of bank holidays be recognized, which create long holidays, to promote and strengthen domestic tourism, as well as the economy of all Peruvians. At present, these dates are established each year by the Government of the day through supreme decrees, but they do not have the force of law.

With few exceptions, the decrees are published a few days in advance, which gives little predictability as to when there will be a long holiday for workers; Consequently, there is little room for planning vacations that potentially benefit companies in the tourism sector at the national level.

In this way, Bill 5095 indicates that article 6-A should be incorporated into Legislative Decree 713, by which paid breaks for private sector workers are regulated, to determine what will be the bridge days holidays:

• Mondays of the year: when the following Tuesday is a legal holiday.
• Fridays of the year: when the previous Thursday is a legal holiday.
• On Mondays and Tuesdays of the year: when the following Wednesday is a legal holiday.

If the proposal is applied, by 2024 there would be six public holidays as recoverable non-working days; while in 2025 there would be eight. It is specified that the Executive Branch could decree non-working days other than those established by law when it deems it appropriate.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), in conjunction with regional and local authorities, is ordered to develop activities and campaigns that promote domestic tourism during national holidays with long weekends declared as non-working days. Likewise, every July 1, the Mincetur must inform Congress about everything that has been done.

“According to the Inter-American Development Bank, the period of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 implied a 76.8% drop in all national markets related to tourism. Therefore, It is of primary interest on the part of all sectors of the State to seek mechanisms to promote internal tourism, with the aim of reactivating the economy of that sector. and of all the entrepreneurs and workers that make it up”, the document states.

The initiative was presented last Thursday, May 18, and must first go through the evaluation of the commissions of the Congress of the Republic before being debated and voted on in plenary.