Sustainable tourism is a practice that holds great relevance for travelers when choosing a vacation destination. This is because they no longer think only about the perfect place to enjoy their days off, but also seek to create environmental and cultural awareness through the tourist activities they can undertake.
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The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines it as a resource management mechanism that satisfies “economic, social, and aesthetic needs while respecting cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life-support systems.”
In this regard, the Peruvian state has seen sustainable tourism as a great opportunity for the sector’s reactivation. Progressively, it aims to reverse the unencouraging figures left by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), in 2021, a 51% drop in inbound tourism was recorded, and compared to 2019, the drop was 90%. What measures is the government implementing to counteract this situation?
NATIONAL PLAN
Through Ministerial Resolution 138-2022-Mincetur, the governmental entity approved the “National Strategy for the Reactivation of the Tourism Sector 2022-2025,” which aims to position the country as a quality, safe, and globally competitive sustainable tourist destination.
Through a series of actions, the regulation seeks to position Peru as a place of unique and unparalleled experiences for travelers. Therefore, its fundamental premise is to strengthen its reputation thanks to the great variety of natural and cultural wealth it possesses.
It should be noted that this set of measures also aims to boost tourism activity in the short and medium term. To achieve this, they are grouped into four key points: budgetary and financial resources, improvement of conditions and facilitation of tourism in destinations, strengthening of the offer of products and experiences, and promotion and positioning of the tourism offer.
According to Roberto Sánchez, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, the country has a biome-biodiversity that will allow—based on a territorial and decentralized approach—the construction of a “one-billion-dollar investment fund to invest in tourist destinations, highlighting the historical, cultural, and gastronomic richness of our country.”
According to the head of Mincetur, these initiatives will increase inbound tourism from 9% to 21% in 2022. Along these lines, the Peruvian Association of Receptive and Internal Tourism Operators (Apotur) maintains that the flow of foreign tourists will grow between 40% and 50%.
TECHNOLOGICAL PARADISE
In addition to the national strategy, another measure the government is adopting is the use of free mobile applications. Through these, they promote tourism in natural reserves that have been severely affected by the low or null influx of visitors during 2020 and 2021.
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One of them is Manu Biósfera, created by the National Service of State Protected Areas (Sernanp). This application provides updated and detailed information about the natural wonders of the Manu Biosphere Reserve and Manu National Park in Madre de Dios. It should be noted that, for now, it is only available for smartphones with the Android operating system.
Upon accessing the digital platform, visitors can find a wealth of varied information, from recommendations from park rangers to tips for preserving the infrastructure of the protected natural area. Similarly, they can discover the main tourist attractions of this green paradise, as well as the most emblematic flora and fauna species of the place.
Another very important piece of information is the itineraries they offer, whether you want to take a tour inside the national park or in areas adjacent to it. The main offer refers to the Manu Routes: Andean Manu, Cultural Manu, and Manu River. Each of them shows through interactive maps the route to follow, the main attractions, as well as the nearest accommodation and restaurant services.
DIGITAL ROUTE
The renowned Coffee Route, in the province of Chanchamayo (Junín), has also joined the digitalization. Thanks to the “1000 Digital Villages in Latin America and the Caribbean” initiative, promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it has been possible to promote the services offered by this path of aromas, flavors, and landscapes.
As in other provinces of Peru, tourism in Chanchamayo was paralyzed due to the health emergency of 2020. To counteract this situation, the region intensified the use of technological tools and social networks to bring travelers closer to one of the most important destinations for rural tourism in the country.
This journey of delicious fragrance has coffee as its main attraction, internationally recognized as the finest in the world. Through this tour, one can appreciate the entire production process of Chanchamayo’s flagship product, from the harvesting of the beans, through the drying and roasting process, to the tasting of a pleasant cup of coffee.
Furthermore, when traveling along the Coffee Route, one can enjoy charming landscapes. The majesty of nature—reflected in beautiful waterfalls, lagoons, and forests—will embrace anyone who dares to live the experience.
Whether you want to visit Manu National Park or immerse yourself in the aromatic Coffee Routes, digital applications will be of great help in making the trip an unforgettable experience. Thanks to these technological tools, tourists can better plan their visit to these paradisiacal destinations.
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