The feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria is one of the most important cultural celebrations in our country. It was recognized as Cultural Heritage of Humanity Intangible by UNESCO in November 2014 and has become an important factor for the impulse of the Puneña economy.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), the recent edition of this party held between January 21 and February 17, generated an economic impact of S/111.6 million. Similarly, it attracted 86,000 national and foreign visitors, which represented a 10.3% growth in the flow of tourists compared to 2024.
Feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria: average spending
The General Directorate of Research and Studies on Tourism and Crafts (DGIETA) He informed that the average expenditure of national tourists during the feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria was S/1,312, while foreign visitors disbursed about S/1,071. These amounts were used to hire accommodation, transportation, food, among others.
Regarding the origin of national tourists, it was observed that most arrived from the regions of Arequipa (32.1%), Lima (20.1%), Cusco (14.1%), Tacna (7.5%), Moquegua (6%), Ica (2.5%), Ayacucho (2.4%) and Apurímac (1.5%). As for international visitors, most arrived from Bolivia (23.8,%), Germany (10.4%), Brazil and Chile (9%each), as well as France and Spain (7.5%each), Argentina (7.4%) and the United States (6,%).
Main attractions
During the celebration of the Virgen de la Candelaria in Puno, visitors took the opportunity to discover the main attractions of the area. According to the DGIETA report, the Puno Plaza de Armas He stood out as the busiest place, with 91.2 % of the tourists who visited it.
Next, the Puno Cathedral (89%), Lake Titicaca (68.5%) and the Floating Islands of the Uros (58%) were located. These places, valued by their cultural, historical and natural wealth, were established as fundamental elements in the tourist experience of travelers.
The analysis of the report also covered the habits and preferences of tourists who attended the holiday. 50.1% of visitors arrived in Puno using interprovincial buses, while 24.2% chose the plane as a means of transport and 21% moved in private vehicles. Regarding the organization of the trip, 81.8 % of tourists carried out the planning of their visit independently, in contrast to the 8.2 % who chose to acquire tourist packages.
Finally, the Peru Promotion Commission for Export and Tourism (Promperú) announced that this celebration could be taken to the International & French Travel Market (IFTM) Top Resa with the aim of internationalizing it. This event will be held from September 23 to 25 in Paris, France.
Source: Larepublica
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