Development of Indigenous Cultural Services for the Tourism Sector in Cusco, Peru.

  • Country: Peru.
  • Location: Cusco, Peruvian Andes.
  • Duration: April 2016 to March 2017.
  • Participants: 133 Quechua indigenous families (prioritizing women and youth) from 8 communities in the Sacred Valley of Cusco.
  • Area of specialization: Rural Market Development, Vocational Training, and Microenterprise.

Starting point

Cusco, a city located in the Peruvian Andes, is a highly attractive tourist destination. However, its population suffers from a high poverty rate, especially among indigenous families, who lack access to basic services and employment opportunities. Most are primarily engaged in agriculture, an activity they complement with the provision of tourism and cultural services to national and international visitors to increase their income.

Tourism is a great opportunity, which is why CODESPA has been working in the Andean region since 2005 through the Community Rural Tourism Program, promoting community development and maintaining their cultural identity.

Objective

The project’s objective is to contribute to the revaluation of the cultural heritage of the Quechua rural communities of Cusco, as a means of inclusion, job creation, and socioeconomic development.

What is the project about

This project supports and collaborates with the Tierra de los Yachaqs association to export its products and services to the Cusco region’s convention tourism market. Specifically, it focuses on strengthening the management and certification of labor competencies in the provision of cultural services to the 133 participants, all of whom are indigenous and living in poverty.

The Tierra de los Yachaqs organization represents 8 communities in the provinces of Calca and Urubamba in the Cusco region. Its strengthening allows for the consolidation of a network of professional cultural services. It also revalues the cultural heritage of the high Andean communities in the Cusco region.

The activities that will be carried out in the project are:

  • 6 professional training courses for the presentation of gastronomic, artisanal, and musical services.
  • Certification of participants in job skills from CENFOTUR, the official tourism training center of the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism.

Improving the beneficiaries’ skills and obtaining certifications will help them attract local companies. Hotels, restaurants, and convention centers in Cusco are increasingly requesting cultural services during events in the region.

Entities that support this project