Arequipa is preparing a tourism project for S/337 million that includes 33 investments

Arequipa is preparing the execution of a tourism project for S/337 million that includes 33 investments to improve infrastructure, accessibility and tourist services, as well as recover the cultural and natural heritage of the region and the Colca Valley.

The Regional Government of Arequipa and the World Bank defined the roadmap to launch the Arequipa-Colca Prioritized Tourist Destination project. Among the next steps are the signing of the financing agreement, the programming of disbursements and the formation of a unit in charge of managing and supervising the investments.

The program includes interventions linked to tourism, culture, transportation, water and sanitation, health, environmental conservation and destination management. In total, it will allow the rehabilitation of 19 tourist attractions and cultural heritage assets.

According to the estimates presented, the project will generate around 8 thousand direct jobs and up to 29 thousand indirect jobs. It is also projected that tourist arrivals will increase by 32.4% and that the beneficiary population’s access to transportation services will improve by 21.1%.

The investments also aim to diversify Arequipa’s tourism offer and develop new circuits and segments, as well as generate opportunities for activities linked to crafts, gastronomy, transportation and other services.

Representatives of the Regional Government of Arequipa, the World Bank, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) participated in the meeting to define the steps towards execution.

According to the Regional Government of Arequipa, representatives of the World Bank indicated that the program constitutes one of the first large comprehensive interventions in tourism promoted in Peru in more than a decade.