By Iain Allan Mills | Head of Fundraising & Partnerships
Dearest supporters,
For this update I wanted to share a point of interest and development with you. This is something that really illustrates the power of your support and the movement of Amantani’s young people through education and into employment opportunities. In case you’re unaware, the young people of Amantani occasionally act as tour guides in the city of Cusco; a great way to integrate with the local culture, to embody a position of leadership, gain vital experience, and it's a super opportunity to explore the wonderous tourist industry that has blessed Peru.
Did you know Tourism is a major source of income for Peru, creating jobs and significantly contributing to the country's GDP?
Did you know that Cusco is a major hub of that industry? As the historic capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco offers a rich cultural experience and acts as a gateway to the wonders of the Sacred Valley, which is home to Peru’s no.1 tourist attraction: Machu Pichu.
As the tourism industry begins to recover from the COVID pandemic* more and more people are returning to Peru, and to Cusco. We want to make sure that our young people are aware and prepared for the possibilities within that opportunity.
In November, as part of that preparation, some young people led a final tour of Cusco this year, and we wanted to share that story with you.
Two of our student leaders led a large group of tourists from Inkaland; a partner organisation. The group were eager to learn more about Cusco and the young people of Amantani. Guided by the two student leaders, the group strolled through the beautiful Plaza de Armas of Cusco, and its surrounding areas, soaking in the bounty of history and unique charm.
To make the day even more special, the tour ended at the Paqari Wayna Youth Home, where everyone enjoyed a dish of Papa a la Huancaína** that was prepared by the student leaders. It was a day filled with intrigue, beauty, laughter, connection, and some unforgettable memories were made.
These opportunities are rare, and they only happen with your support and with the development of our young students. This is why we provide the education and seek out the opportunities we do. It’s been quite a year for the young students, and we wanted to thank you for joining us on this journey in 2024!
We can’t wait to see what the new year will bring and we look forward to sharing the journey with you!
Happy holidays, wherever you are.
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* Impact of COVID-19 on Peru's Tourism Industry
In 2020, the number of tourists visiting Peru plummeted to 1.12 million, a 79% decrease compared to 2019 (5.28 million visitors). This meant a significant decrease in Tourism Revenue which fell significantly from $4.70 billion in 2019 to $1.00 billion in 2020. Post-Covid however, in 2021, there was a small recovery with 444,000 visitors and $1.04 billion in revenue. We very much hope our young people can explore this avenue of permanent work opportunites with the help of your support and tourism opportunities like those afforded by Inkaland.
** Papa a la huancaína is a Peruvian appetizer of sliced boiled potatoes in a spicy, creamy sauce made of queso fresco (fresh white cheese). There are lots of versions, some with sautéed or grilled ají amarillo (yellow Peruvian pepper), red onion and garlic. It is one of the most popular and representative gastronomic products of Peru.
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