The wave of protests Announced as of January 4 in the macro-south region, the main damage will be Peruvian tourism, which would suffer millions in losses if the violence registered in recent weeks is unleashed again, which left 28 dead to date, according to the Ombudsman’s Office.
The president of the Cusco Chamber of Commerce, John González, indicated to Peru21 that behind the call there are radical political groups and external forces, such as the case of former President Evo Morales, who encourage and, in some cases, he assured, force the population to join the marches. If violence returns, the region would lose S/7 million every day, according to his estimates. “Cusco lives on tourism. If they harm this sector again with violent actions, tourism will die, ”he said.
Walter Bustamante, president of the Arequipa Chamber of Tourism, estimated that the losses in this region during the weeks of protest amounted to S/120 million and that, if the wave of violence returns, there will be a loss of S/7 million per day. , similar to the case of Arequipa.
As he pointed out, there are certain triggers that have already been identified. In the case of the Arequipa airport takeover, he affirmed, it was organized by Felipe Domínguez, president of the Northern Cone Defense Front, in the White City. The Prosecutor’s Office has already opened an investigation against him for attacking national sovereignty and criminal organization. “This is a war of deception, people need to work and tourism affects everything,” he added.
Alejandro Mancilla, president of the Ayacucho Chamber of Tourism, a region where 10 people died, said that this time there would not be much call after the human losses, but that there is still uncertainty for tourists.
“We expected to close 2022 with a 20% increase in tourist visits; instead, 90% of reservations were cancelled. If the protests return, S / 3 million per day will be lost, ”he said.
KEEP IN MIND
- The Ayacucho People’s Defense Front (Fredepa), which participated in the protests in December, announced that it will not join the January 4 strike.
- The front is also blamed for the deaths for stirring up the protests.
