Desilú León, the head of Mincetur, took part in the opening of the First National Fair of Community Tourism, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) in Barranco. The event included representatives from 40 communities across 11 regions of Peru.
In her speech, the minister highlighted that the participating organizations bring together 1,500 entrepreneurs, 54% of whom are women. These organizations also have 200 tourism-related businesses, all registered in the National Register of Community-Based Organizations.
León explained that being listed in this register allows them to access various benefits, such as technical assistance, training, and the chance to join public contests through the Turismo Emprende program. This program has a budget of over five million soles this year to help fund projects for about 70 small businesses.
The fair also created a space for tour operators and community tourism entrepreneurs to connect and promote their services to the people of Lima, who are the main market for trips within the country.
As part of the activities, 11 community-based organizations from Puno, Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, and Lambayeque were recognized. They also offered tourism packages starting at 300 soles per person to 100 potential buyers, aiming to generate around four million soles in expected sales.
To reach pre-pandemic tourism levels, the supported organizations received on-site technical advice to improve the quality of their services. They also redesigned their tourism products and value propositions with a market focus.
Minister León concluded by saying: "This event is an important step toward restarting the economies of these communities by showcasing community tourism experiences both nationally and internationally."
Source: National Chamber of Tourism of Peru
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