Protests against Boluarte create uncertainty in tourism in Arequipa and Puno

Various sectors of the population have confirmed their participation in the national march called against the government of the president Dina Boluarte this July 19. One of the most sensitive sectors with these manifestations is the tourism. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Arequipa (CCIA) indicated that 45% of national tourist packages and 60% international ones were canceled before the advent of protests.

“I don’t know where they got that data, maybe there was a mistake. At the moment, talking with the private unions, we don’t have any negative cancellation data. Rather, we are betting that there will be more influx of tourists,” said the regional manager of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Jorge Meza. The official maintained that if there are cancellations they are minimal, but not of that magnitude. Wait to Arequipa exceed 128 thousand foreign tourists and 1 million 800 thousand nationals in 2022. 45% and 60% are missing respectively to reach the figures.

While Enrique Santanapresident of the Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies of Arequipa (AVIT), pointed out that it is difficult to calculate if there are cancellations. Rather, he said that there is uncertainty in 60% of tourist packages for the following months. “The packages that have been reserved are not being confirmed. They are on stand by,” she explained. He maintained that the sector is very dynamic and that one must wait and see how the protests unfold and “what attitude the government is taking to stop the demonstrations and that they do not turn into violence.”

Puno: blow to tourism

The analyst of the Foreign Trade Society of Peru (ComexPeru), Marcelo Huaquistoreported that in the first quarter of 2023, 70% of tourist packages were canceled in Fist and the situation would worsen with the new protests. Hotel businessmen and travel agencies were directly affected, as were agents of this chain, such as artisans, guides, transporters and others.

The specialist specified that Fist It is the region with the lowest level of recovery of the tourist flow. Compared to 2019, the influx of domestic and foreign tourism was reduced by 90%. Visits to the Titicaca National Reserve decreased 94%. In the first quarter there were only 1,850 visits, when in 2019 it exceeded 33,000. To Sillustani, 18 thousand visitors were reached in 2019, but there were only 18 thousand this 2023. Marcelo Huaquisto said that the conflict affected the image abroad of Peru as a tourist destination and especially of Fist.