Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Travel & Tourism | July 25, 2011 [ 13:46 ]

Authorities open new path in Machu Picchu

LivinginPeru.com

Tourism authorities in Cusco announced they would be enabling a new path for visitors to Machu Picchu, in order to meet the recent record-high demand.

According to an article published in Andina, the new path to Machu Picchu would be under evaluation for 15 days and would allow visitors to see Inca walls, the natural landscape and Huayna Picchu.

This initiative benefited tourists who were prevented from entering early on Monday morning, because they had not been able to purchase tickets. The tourists had blocked off roads in protest.

The press announcement came after a meeting between Cusco’s Regional Director of Culture, Juan Julio Garcia Rivas, Regional Director of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Carlos Zuniga, and Peggy Morante, a representitive of Iperú.

Garcia explained that the route will be open from 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, and will allow an additional 400 tourists to enter per day.

He noted that if in 15 days there could be guarantees that the new area wouldn’t lead to a collapse, it could become a permanent pathway.

A decision regarding the paths future will depend on the Management Unit of Machu Picchu (UGM).

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Travel & Tourism | July 25, 2011 [ 12:44 ]

Tourism in Peru will generate $11 billion in 2021

LivinginPeru.com

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts that tourism in Peru will grow at an average annual rate of 5.5 percent in 2012 reaching a record that would exceed 11 billion in 2021, informed the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL).

According to an article published in Andina, the WTTC’s report indicates that tourism directly contributed $6.3 - 4.3 percent of Peru’s GDP in 2010- to the economy.

These figures include the activities of hotels, travel agencies, airlines and other transportation services, restaurants and entertainment purchased by local and foreign tourists.

Although tourism increased at a rate of 4.1 percent last year, this was below the 9.1 percent in crease in 2009.

The slowdown in tourism growth is primarily due to domestic factors, specifically the city of Cusco, the main tourist destination, which in early 2010 suffered a sharp decline in tourist flow from 14.2 percent.

This was due to natural disasters that crippled the transport system and prompted the closure of Machu Picchu for three months, which resulted in the loss of approximately 6,000 jobs.

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Lima | July 25, 2011 [ 10:22 ]

Lima’s Museum of Art open to the public, free of charge

LivinginPeru.com

Lima’s Museum of Art (MALI) will be open to the public, free of charge, from Monday July 25th until July 31st.

During the week there will tours, theater performances, film screenings and art workshops for children from 12:00pm to 6:00pm.

Aside from the permanent collection, El Comercio reports that there are currently two retrospective exhibitions of Peruvian artists.

Among the exhibitions is the Fernando de Szyszlo retrospective, which brings together his most recent paintings, his iconic abstract paintings, sculptures, personal objects and his video "This wall is not dividing."

The other retrospective is Jorge Piqueras ’De la estructura al estallido.’ This exhibit includes unpublished material such as notebooks and sketches from the artist, and aims to show Piqueras’ transition from a geometric style toward more abstract paintings.

There will also be a children’s event, titled “A day in the museum”. Children will be provided with materials to design the facade of the museum printed on cardboard.

In another workshop, children outline a work by Szyszlo and Piqueras, and examine difference between the artists’ choice of colors. Both courses involve a guide from MALI and a teacher.

The museum will present the play ‘In the Shadow of the Tree’, which unfolds in shades of all sizes and colors, cardboard cutouts, mobile screens and puppets with live music.

MALI will also show a different film every day.

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Mining & Energy | July 25, 2011 [ 10:02 ]

Peru will respect existing mining contracts, says next minister

LivinginPeru.com

Carlos Herrera Descalzi, recently appointed Minister of Energy and Mining, has stated the new government will respect contracts and will focus on the negotiation of commitments in the mining sector.

According to an article in Andina, Herrera said that Ollanta Humala’s administration would not break commitments or contracts entered into by the previous administration, be it good or bad.

"Contracts must be respected because it is essential for stability. The country is like a person, if he doesn’t keep to his word or commitment, he loses the credit he needs to continue in life," Herrera said.

"Laws and contracts also promote the country," he said in a statement to channel ATV.

Herrera said that the new government would use legal channels to ensure domestic demand for gas is met, using gas from Block 88.

He said the state should give different opportunities for dialogue in the mining sector, in order for communities to understand the benefits of mining.

Furthermore, Herrera said that this should be accompanied by environmental impact studies carried out with "professionalism and seriousness."

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Business | July 25, 2011 [ 9:58 ]

Peru and Mexico partner to promote Pisco worldwide

LivinginPeru.com

Through the regulatory boards of Pisco and Tequila, on September 29th Peru and Mexico will sign an alliance that aims to enhance the promotion of the Peruvian national drink worldwide.

"One of the most successful regulatory boards that exist in Latin American is that of tequila, which has managed to position their product in the minds of consumers, both Mexican and foreign," said Jaime Marimon, Chairman of the Board of the Pisco Designation of Origin.

According to an article in Andina, Marimon said preliminary discussions for this agreement began earlier this year and documents had been sent to Mexico and would be signed in the next two months.

"We are confident that this alliance will strengthen us because we can learn about their successful experience of positioning their product in the minds of consumers. But above all, this will mark the way forward," Marimon told Andina.

Marimon said that to date there are 400 growers, with permission to use the Pisco name, which means an increase of 14.2% over that recorded for 2010 which amounted to 350 producers.

"There are about 650 brands that may use the Pisco denomination of origin classification," he said.

He noted that the cooperation with Mexico will involve technical and sales support, and will become effective after signed officially on 29 September, in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico.

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Politics | July 25, 2011 [ 9:18 ]

Peru’s García will not attend Humala’s inauguration

LivinginPeru.com

Outgoing President Alan Garcia has said he will not attend Ollanta Humala’s presidential inauguration.

According to an article published in El Comercio, critics of Garcia assumed this to be a snub against his successor, whom he defeated in the 2006 elections.

As García inspected a new school, he said the inauguration on July 28th "is to hear the new president’s message."

He recalled that although he had attended the inauguration of Alberto Fujimori in 1990, "there was such unrest in congress, because of my presence, that I’d rather focus on my health, and say ‘Let the new president give his message freely, let’s not vent our frustrations in front of foreign heads of state.'"

García recalled the booing her received the last day of his first term: "it’s almost inevitable, MPs take advantage of the situation, they make noise and shout and it’s not good for the country to do this in front of visitors foreigners. Finally, it is also not good for me, because I suffered this in the 1990. "

He added he wasn’t mandated by the constitution to attend the event, and considered it better to leave the government palace while the new president was being sworn in.

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Travel & Tourism | July 25, 2011 [ 8:58 ]

Tourists take over bridge, prevent access to Machu Picchu

LivinginPeru.com

The bridge located on the main access road to the Inca city of Machu Picchu was taken over by about 150 tourists, who did not get an entry ticket to visit the ruins.

They were not sold tickets because the site has a capacity of 2,500 visitors per day, in accordance with UNESCO guidelines.

Information provided by the tour guide Victor Yanez, and quoted by local radio RPP, noted that the buses that transport travelers to the area are stranded because the protesters were standing on the bridge and would not allow the buses to go through.

This morning, dozens of tourists, warned that if they were not given a solution they would take radical measures, including a march to the archaeological site to enter by force, or a blockage of the main road leading to the ruins.

Protestors also stated that if these problems were not solved in the next few hours they would continue their protest and express their criticism of the mistreatment they have suffered, through social networks.

Mayor Oscar Valencia Auca said that another group protested by putting their backpacks on the pre-Columbian city gate and attempted to take over the citadel. Valencia said that unless a solution was found soon, he would sue the Regional Directorate of Culture for the mess that is being generated locally.

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	Entry to Machu Picchu limited to 2,500 (by LIP, July 21, 2011)
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Sports | July 25, 2011 [ 2:13 ]

Peruvian president inaugurates renovated National Stadium

Andina

Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez on Sunday formally inaugurated the renovated National Stadium in Lima, which has been designed to seat over 45,000 fans and for both high definition television coverage and spectator comfort.

The ceremony was graced with the presence of Peru's national football team, who had just returned from Argentina after claiming third place at the 2011 Copa America.

"They represent the new spirit of the country, this new found Peruvian spirit who wants to succeed and knows that it can achieve greater things," President Garcia said in front of a 45,000-strong crowd.

He praised the Peruvian team for their victories and bronze medal at the South American tournament held in Argentina and hailed them as "the expression of a nation that through its workers, technicians, professionals and entrepreneurs has moved towards its destiny, earning the world's admiration."

With an investment of 206 million soles (US$75 million), the president recalled that the National Stadium was renovated and expanded after 59 years since its construction.

"On behalf of the Peruvian people, I inaugurate the new National Stadium Of Peru as a tribute to the youth of the country," Garcia said right before the fireworks show commenced.

The inauguration ceremony began around 17.00 hours (22.00 GMT) and ended almost six hours later with a goalless friendly draw between the Under-20 teams of Peru and Spain.

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Sports | July 23, 2011 [ 16:19 ]

Peru wins 4-1 with hat trick by Guerrero

LivinginPeru.com

Peru takes the bronze in the Copa America 2011 tournament after beating Venezuela 4-1 with goals by William Chiroque and three by Paolo Guerrero.

The team will fly back to Lima tomorrow night.

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Sports | July 23, 2011 [ 13:12 ]

Peru vs Venezuela in Copa America: See Chiroque's goal

LivinginPeru.com

At halftime, Peru leads Venezuela 1-0 in the battle for third place in the Copa America 2011.

See the goal by Willian Chiroque from a Paolo Guerrero pass.

Watch the game live via ATV on the web.

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