Analysis of a Destination - Peru - Case Study Example

Analysis of a destination–Peru University Student Id Course Date Analysis of a destination–Peru MAP The Pacific Ocean Source: http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-87538/Pacific-Ocean The countries that border Peru Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4405402.stm The Andes Mountains Source: http://sprinterlife.com/2012/05/posted-up-in-the-andes-mountains.html The Amazon River Source: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160516-why-it-is-hard-to-find-the-source-of-rivers-like-the-amazon The capital city Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/ottawa-canada-capital-city-510676 Cusco Source: http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/destinations/cusco/ Lake Titicaca Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Titicaca Taquile Island Source: https://delange.org/Taquile/Taquile.htm Peru’s natural environment Peru has one of the biggest areas of the rainforest in the entire world, and the area covers almost 60% of the total Peru territory. However, the rate of deforestation in Peru ranged between 3.5% and 5%. Moreover, this deforestation has been mainly brought about by the subsistence farming from the migrant farmers. According to the squatter`s law, citizens are permitted to possess a public land provided that they have lived there for more than five years. In addition, the deforestation is also caused by various activities such as the mining, petroleum drilling, road development and illegal logging among the others. However, the environmental minister of Peru has stated that the issue of deforestation is mainly caused by the Andean farmers, construction of new roads and also the gold mining (Brightsmith, Stronza, and Holle, 2008). Therefore, the environmental minister said that Peru required almost 25 million dollars for around ten years to come in order to be capable of conserving almost 54 million hectares of the rainforest. Also, the Peruvian government has deployed more than 3,000 environmental police to prevent deforestation activities in the remote areas. The information concerning the natural environment in Peru can be important in the process of planning for tourists. The tourists can assess the level of attractiveness hence helping in making decisions. The tourists can be in a position to realize the beautiful scenery in Peru (Larson and Poudyal, 2012). Peruvian Society a. Peru’s ethnic diversity and why Peru is ethnically diverse Peru is a multiethnic and also a multicultural nation, whereby the country comprises of people who have varying historical backgrounds. Therefore, since Peru is a multiethnic community, the Peruvian people always perceive the aspect of nationality as a citizenship rather than ethnicity. Moreover, Peru being a multiethnic nation, it is formed through the amalgamation of various cultures as well as ethnicities. In accordance to the recent estimation, around 45% of the people inhabiting Peru are the Amerindian, 37% of the inhabitants are mestizo, and 15% white people and then 3% are the Asians (Babb, 2012). Moreover, more than 4 million Amerindians in Peru are usually under the Inca domination. However, due to inadequate food supply and also new diseases which included measles and scarlet fever, less than one million Amerindians left Peru. Despite all these challenges, currently, the population of the Amerindians in Peru is increasing to almost eight million. In addition, the major groups of the Amerindians are the Aymara and the Quechua-speaking tribes even though there are still other minor tribes that are found in the highlands (Stepchenkova and Zhan, 2013). However, those Amerindians who were found in the low lands of Peru were not subjugated by the Incas, and therefore they continued to be hunters, foragers and also fishermen for their livelihoods. Moreover, in the year 1980 around 225,000 Indians who were living in the rainforest of Peru were categorized into 37 distinct tribes. Importantly, the 20-year plan which was announced in the year 1968 demanded the full integration of the Amerindians in terms of social, political and also economic activities (Larson and Poudyal, 2012). In addition, the sociocultural differences that were based on the ethnic background occurred in the Peruvian community, whereby the whites were ranked at the highest level in the hierarchy. b. Languages spoken in Peru In accordance with the Constitution of Peru which was enacted in the year 1993, the official languages that are usually used in Peru are the Spanish and the Amerindian languages which include Quechua. However, in nowadays the Spanish language is being used in the media, education sector, and commerce and also by the government. The Amerindians who occupy the Andean highlands speak the language of Quechua and are ethnically different from the other indigenous groups that are found on the eastern side of Andes. These indigenous groups usually speak different languages and also dialects (Bury, 2008). Moreover, some of the indigenous groups still uphold their traditional customs, whereas the others have been assimilated to the culture of mestizo-Hispanic. c. Religious diversity in Peru According to the census that was conducted in the year 2007, 81.3% of the total population in Peru belonged to the Catholic religion, 12.5% belonged to the Evangelical religion whereas the 3.3% belonged to the Seventh-day Adventist and 2.9% were non-religious (Larson and Poudyal, 2012). However, in yearly basis during the month of October, a large number of religious people from different races and also with varied economic backgrounds usually dresses in purple clothes to celebrate the religious ceremony known as the Black Christ in the Lima streets. The majority of the religious activities in Peru were inherited from the Spanish conquest, and as a result of this, the largest population in this country usually belong to the Catholic religion. Moreover, after the 16th century, the native religion was always expressed through the cult of a sun which was referred to as the Pachamama (Bury, 2008). However, numerous churches such as the Jehovah`s Witness, Adventists, Mormons and also Muslims among others have currently risen. d. Sources of wealth and employment in Peru The tourists in Peru can become aware of the cultural diversity in Peru through different ways. Some of the ways include word of mouth, print media and internet. There is information concerning the cultural diversity in Peru that is communicated through the three ways hence reaching the tourists. Tourism in Peru is among the major sources of wealth after mining and foreign trade. The economic performance in Peru in most cases relies on the exports which usually provide the hard currency that is used in financing imports and also for the payment of external debts. Moreover, the major exports of Peru include; copper, zinc, gold, textiles, pharmaceuticals and also machinery among the others. In addition, the main trade partners of Peru are; China, Brazil, European Union and also the United States. However, even though the exports have provided revenue, the distribution of the income have proven to be elusive. Furthermore, the services usually contribute 43% of the gross domestic product of Peru while the manufacturing sector accounts 32.3% (Divino and McAleer, 2010). The current economic development has been driven by the macroeconomic stability and increase in investment. Peru’s tourism history Peru has become a major tourist destination because of its wonderful tourist destinations that have many attractions and beautiful scenery. Tourism is the third biggest industry in Peru after fishing and mining. However, tourism revolves around various things such as the archaeological monuments, gastronomic tourism, ecotourism and also cultural tourism among the others. Moreover, in accordance with the government study of Peru, the rate of satisfying tourists after they pay a visit to Peru is 94% (Bury, 2008). Therefore, this is a clear indication that tourism industry in Peru is growing at a faster rate as compared to the other countries such as the South Africa. In addition, the cultural tourism usually forms the largest part of the Peruvian tourism industry. Inca Heritage The Inca heritage has become part of Peruvian tourism product. The impacts of the Inca heritage on the Peruvian society include the increased tourists who are an important source of income. The majority of the local ways of worship that existed in Peru were mostly concerned with the local sacred known as the Huacas, but the Inca leadership insisted on the worship of Inti which was their sun god. Moreover, the Inca Empire was unique since it had no numerous characteristics which are related to the civilization of the old world (Buckley and Villarreal, 2005). For instance, some of the civilization features that the Inca Empire lacked include; there were no wheeled vehicles, no animals which could pull plows and wagons, there was no writing system, and also people in the empire lacked knowledge in both steel and iron. However, despite all these things that were lacking in the Inca Empire, the empire was still able to establish one of the imperial states that are greatest in the human history (Fotiou, 2010). However, the economy of Inca has been explained as feudal, slave and also socialist whereby an individual may either select the socialist paradise or even the socialist tyranny. However, the economy operates mostly without markets and also money, whereby the exchange of goods and services are usually based on the aspect of reciprocity between the people. Also, taxes involved the labor obligation of an individual to the empire. Lake Titicaca The tourists visiting Lake Titicaca region encounter a wonderful experience. Lake Titicaca comprises of the 40 islands and is usually supplied by water by five major rivers and has got a fascinating arena that revolves around the pre-Hispanic cultures. For instance, in the Suasi Island that is found in Lake Titicaca, there is always abundant wildlife, beautiful lake panoramas and also a luxurious eco-lodge which establishes an unforgettable snapshot of the Peru country. However, when an individual is going for a trip in this region, the tourism services are not always private, but in most cases, they are usually shared. Tour guiding in Peru There are various difficulties that are faced in the process of managing tour guiding. The major difficulty is the issue of climate change that has affected the tourist destinations. Also, the temperatures have changed due to the issue of global warming leading to a poor experience of the tourists (Buckley and Villarreal, 2005). The other difficulty in the tourism industry facing tour guiding management is meeting the diverse needs of the tourists. The tourists are visiting the country with over expectations that have led lack of satisfaction hence making it a major challenge to the tour guides. Peruvian postcards The Peruvian postcards are playing important role in improving the popularity as a good tourist attraction. Through the postcards, many people are made aware of the tourist attractions that are existing in Peru. For example, the Peruvian Andean children play an important role in communicating the culture of Peru (Divino and McAleer, 2010). The image making of the tourism in Peru is improved as the tourists through the postcards can view the culture that forms an important part of tourist attractions. Gastronomic experiences in Peru There are various gastronomic experiences for the tourists in Peru like the Peruvian cuisine. The Peruvian cuisine is usually considered as the best in the entire world since it has inherited its innovation, flavors and mix from the history of Peru. However, the culinary fusion improved through a long process of exchanging culture between the Africans, Spanish, Japanese, Italians and the Chinese (Buckley and Villarreal, 2005). Moreover, the dishes continued to become more varied as a result of the interaction of the migrants and also mixing of different races. In addition, the fusion gave rise into dishes which were unique such as the skewered cow heart, Tacu-Tacu stew and also the carapulcra dishes which are associated with the African heritage. Also, the Italian migrants resulted into traditional dishes such as the red pasta and green in Peru. Furthermore, the Peruvian food provided a closing highlight and also offered a national menu that acted as a revelation to the European dinners and especially during the Madrid food festival (Puhakka, Salo and Sääksjärvi, 2011). Importantly, the succulent Peruvian dishes were always cooked by the Peruvian chefs who were working in the European Restaurants Transport experiences in Peru The transport experiences that are available for the tourists visiting Peru include air transport, highways, and rail transport network. The biggest cities that are found in Peru always possess a public system for the transportation purposes. However, the El Metropolitan which is a rapid transit bus system is the easiest and also the reliable mode of transport. Therefore, the tourists are usually provided with information concerning routes, ticket prices and also timetables through the website (Jamal and Stronza, 2009). Besides, the public transportation system of Arequipa comprised of both mini bus and bus system. However, it is always advisable to the tourists that they should first negotiate for the price tickets before traveling by taxi. Air transport Peru does not have a single national airline, but it has numerous airlines which provide transport services to Peru from America, Asia and also Europe. Some of the popular airlines that are found in Peru include; LAN Peru, Avianca Peru and the Star Peru (Puhakka, Salo and Sääksjärvi, 2011). In addition, the Peru`s airports are still served by the international airlines from various nations. However, the domestic airline is the main method through which tourists travel into the country. Highways Transport The land of Peru usually borders five countries, and all of them have a highway connection with exception of Colombia. Moreover, the international routes for the buses usually operate on every highway thus providing transport services from the cities of Peru to the cities in the South America (Zorn and Farthing, 2007). In addition, the highway system extensively covers the whole country. Rail transport There are only two main railway systems that usually operate outside Lima, whereby one of the railway systems is situated at the central part of Peru, and the other one is located in the southern part of the country. The central railway begins at the sea level of Lima and then traverses up to the (Andes, 2008). However, the southern railway is the one mostly used by the tourists because it connects the city of Cusco with the Machu Picchu which is the main tourist attraction. https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/south-america/peru/peru-transport-how-to-get-get-around-safely-a-quickguide Accommodation in Peru Accommodation experiences that are available for the tourists in Peru are diverse. In Peru, there is no any problem that is related to accommodation since there are numerous hostels in the backpacking hubs such as the Lima, Cusco and Arequipa. However, the hostels that are found in Peru in most cases they usually target the international clientele. Therefore, the staff in these hostels in general usually speak either English or Spanish language, and the hostels are always equipped with the first world amenities which include; WI-FI, hot water and also computers (Zorn and Farthing, 2007). http://activeadventures.com/blog/2015/02/accommodation-peru-where-to-stay-peru-adventure/ The Brochure Peruvian heritage Peru is among the best tourist destinations. The unique culture, wonderful accommodation and nature of the country provides an important source of entertainment. Source: http://www.touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-peru/ Tourists can be able to enjoy adventure in mountains. Cordillera Blanca offers a wonderful experience for the tourists visiting Peru. Mountain hiking and climbing is among the tourist activities in the destination. The natural environment in Peru is important source of attraction. The tourists can enjoy the beautiful scenery in Peru. Kuelap is among the beautiful scenery that important part of the natural environment. It combines the ancient ruins with cloud forests in Amazon River. Fortress found at Kuelap is important source of entertainment in Peru with bromeliads growing inside. The tourists looking for a good tour experience can consider Peru as the most attractive tourist destination. References Anderson, C., 2008. The effects of tourism on the Cusco region of Peru. UW-L Journal of Undergraduate Research, 11, pp.1-4. Brightsmith, D.J., Stronza, A. and Holle, K., 2008. Ecotourism, conservation biology, and volunteer tourism: A mutually beneficial triumvirate. Biological Conservation, 141(11), pp.2832-2842. Babb, F.E., 2012. Theorizing gender, race, and cultural tourism in Latin America: A view from Peru and Mexico. Latin American Perspectives, 39(6), pp.36-50. Buckley, C. and Villarreal, A., 2005. The ‘Reinvented’State in Emerging Industries: A Comparison of Tourism in Peru and Chile. Bury, J., 2008. New geographies of tourism in Peru: Nature-based tourism and conservation in the Cordillera Huayhuash. Tourism Geographies, 10(3), pp.312-333. Divino, J.A. and McAleer, M., 2010. Modelling and forecasting daily international mass tourism to Peru. Tourism Management, 31(6), pp.846-854. Fotiou, E., 2010. From medicine men to day trippers: Shamanic tourism in Iquitos, Peru (Doctoral dissertation, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON). Jamal, T. and Stronza, A., 2009. Collaboration theory and tourism practice in protected areas: Stakeholders, structuring and sustainability. Journal of Sustainable tourism, 17(2), pp.169-189. Larson, L.R. and Poudyal, N.C., 2012. Developing sustainable tourism through adaptive resource management: A case study of Machu Picchu, Peru. Journal of sustainable tourism, 20(7), pp.917-938. Puhakka, L., Salo, M. and Sääksjärvi, I.E., 2011. Bird diversity, birdwatching tourism and conservation in Peru: a geographic analysis. PLoS One, 6(11), p.e26786. Stepchenkova, S. and Zhan, F., 2013. Visual destination images of Peru: Comparative content analysis of DMO and user-generated photography. Tourism Management, 36, pp.590-601. Zorn, E. and Farthing, L.C., 2007. Communitarian tourism hosts and mediators in Peru. Annals of Tourism Research, 34(3), pp.673-689. List of references showing the images The Pacific Ocean Source: http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-87538/Pacific-Ocean The countries that border Peru Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4405402.stm The Andes Mountains Source: http://sprinterlife.com/2012/05/posted-up-in-the-andes-mountains.html The Amazon River Source: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160516-why-it-is-hard-to-find-the-source-of-rivers-like-the-amazon The capital city Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/ottawa-canada-capital-city-510676 Cusco Source: http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/destinations/cusco/ Lake Titicaca Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Titicaca Taquile Island Source: https://delange.org/Taquile/Taquile.htm https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/south-america/peru/peru-transport-how-to-get-get-around-safely-a-quickguide http://activeadventures.com/blog/2015/02/accommodation-peru-where-to-stay-peru-adventure/ Read More