Background – Over the past five or so years, Peru has been experiencing steady economic growth and the number of poor people as a percentage of the general population has shown a slight decrease. Nevertheless, 44 of every 100 Peruvians continue to live in precarious conditions, the majority of them in rural areas. Hardest hit of all are the small farming families, for whom agriculture represents the sole source of income. In the future, tourism could provide them with a second pillar of support. Peru’s greatest attraction – in addition to the buildings of earlier cultures – is the natural beauty of its landscape. All the same, if these are to be used to attract tourists, their protection must be actively encouraged. It is only for as long as nature remains unspoiled and the local population is able to welcome the travellers that tourism in these regions will retain its potential for development.

Project – For years, the number of visitors to the Ancash region has been rising, although they continue to concentrate on the Cordillera Blanca (white Cordillera). A two-hour drive away, nestling in the foothills of the Cordillera Negra (black Cordillera), is the Conchucos Region. This offers ruins of prehistoric cultures and outdoor activities including hiking, trekking and mountain biking. Swisscontact is supporting local goods and service providers and residents to develop new tourist-related products, as well as the necessary infrastructure such as restaurants and hotels. Since this project was implemented, the number of restaurants has increased from 10 to 15 and the number of hotels from 9 to 12. The basic and further training of the local population is an important element in this. Only by doing this can it be ensured that they do actually make a profit from the ever growing flow of visitors. As a direct goal, the project in the Ancash region aims to increase the income of 280 local small enterprises. Including all the family members, this provides a possible way out of poverty for some 1,200 women, children and men.