On May 13, a ceremony was held in Luya District, Amasonas Province, Republic of Peru (hereinafter referred to as “Peru”) to celebrate the completion of the Kiocta Cave construction project, which was funded by the yen loan “Amasonas Province Regional Development Project.
The ceremony, which was attended by numerous government and business officials and local residents, was attended by Peruvian Vice Minister of Trade and Tourism Bruns, Governor Orna Amasonas, and others from the Peruvian side, and Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Yamamoto and JICA Director Imoto from the Japanese side.
Completion Ceremony in front of the Kiokuta Cave Visitor Center JICA Director Sachiko Imoto delivers a speech at the Kiokuta Cave Completion Ceremony
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Kiokuta Cave Visitor Center
(From left to right: Madelaine Bruns, Vice Minister of Trade and Tourism; Hilmer Orna, Governor of Amazonas Province; Jorge Perez, Governor of Lambayeque Province; Takeshi Yamamoto, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Peru to Japan; Sachiko Imoto, JICA Director; Burrell Pinto, Member of Parliament; Jorge Maicelo, Rector of Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodriguez Mendoza) Inside the Kiokuta Cave Visitor Center
Peru is famous for Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines in the southern part of the country, but the northern state of Amaçonas also has many attractive tourism resources, including nature, culture, and lifestyle that have been passed down through the Chachapoya, Inca, and Spanish occupation periods over the past 1,500 years. In addition, Peru has achieved solid economic growth in recent years, but the problems of poverty and social disparity are serious. Amasonas has a relatively high percentage of poor people in the country and is expected to reduce poverty through the promotion of tourism as an industry that drives the economy.
On the other hand, 1) important cultural heritage is not properly preserved, 2) infrastructure to receive tourists is not sufficiently developed, 3) tourism information to explain the attractions of the region is not sufficiently developed, and 4) the effect of poverty reduction through tourism development is limited due to insufficient participation of residents in tourism development, Therefore, the development of tourism that is citizen-driven through the appropriate conservation and utilization of tourism resources has become an important theme. In addition, the collapse in April 2022 of a part of the Kuelap ruins, which are a representative tourism resource in the state of Amaçonas and are known as the “second Machu Picchu,” has had a significant impact on the tourism industry due to the restrictions placed on entrance.
Against this backdrop, the completion of the Kiocta Cave, the first of the tourism facilities to be built following the waste disposal site and roads that have been under construction since 2013 with yen loans, has reached its completion date. The construction included a museum, a tourist rest area, an access road to the cave, an observatory, and a walking trail and lighting in the cave. In the Chachapoya period, it was customary to bury the dead in caves, and mummies and burial accessories were scattered throughout the caves, so archaeological surveys and excavations were conducted in the caves prior to the construction work.
This is the first time in Peru that lighting has been installed in a cave, and the lighting accentuates the beautiful stalactites in the cave, making it much more attractive as a tourist destination. In addition, the museum and tourist rest area exhibit the cultural heritage excavated in the area and provide information on local culture, nature, and animals, which have not been adequately maintained and disseminated until now. Furthermore, a national university in the state of Amazonas participated in the archaeological survey and excavation work in the caves, contributing to the training of students who are the eggs of archaeologists.
The unveiling of the nameplate at the Rammed Museum
(From left to right: Leida Limaratin, Vice Governor of Amasonas; Takeshi Yamamoto, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Peru to Japan; Sachiko Imoto, JICA Director; Madeleine Bruns, Vice Minister of Trade and Tourism; Amilcar Diaz, Ramud District Mayor; Hilmer Orna, Governor of Amasonas; Burrell Pinto, Member of Parliament; Lenin Serban Director of the Department of Trade and Tourism of the State Government of Amasonas) Inside the Kiokuta Caves
(From left to right: Akihiro Kimura, JICA Representative in Peru; Percy Pilko, Director General of PROAMAZONAS; Madeleine Bruns, Vice Minister of Trade and Tourism; Sachiko Imoto, JICA Executive Director; Takashi Nishimura, JICA Peru Office Director; and Marcial Lozano, JICA consultant)
Through technical cooperation, the project is also supporting the development of sustainable, resident-oriented tourism, and it is expected that the Kiokuta Caves will become one of the core centers of tourism in the state of Amaçonas, attracting more visitors and contributing to the revitalization of the local economy and the improvement of residents’ incomes.
At the ceremony, the Vice Minister of Trade and Tourism expressed his expectations for the further economic development of the State of Amazonas. He also expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government and people.
In addition to the above, JICA is promoting the development of various tourism and basic infrastructure in the state of Amazonas, and will continue to support further development of the region.
© Source JICA
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