Enhancing Community Tourism in Kacllarakay

Kacllarakay is a community situated in the Maras district, Urubamba province, Cusco region, Peru. This community boasts a rich cultural heritage and is primarily engaged in agriculture, cultivating products such as corn, quinoa, fava beans, wheat, barley, and potatoes.

With the aim of empowering the residents, our SAT Sustainable Team seeks to train locals, create tour packages, promote them, and support their marketing. The objective is to benefit 22 local families, improve their housing, and provide them with the opportunity to become hosts for tourists seeking authentic experiences. Through community-based tourism, the goal is to enhance the families' quality of life and stop the migration of younger generations.
The preliminary assessment reveals that Kacllarakay possesses strengths in its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and unique landscapes in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. However, there are weaknesses such as a lack of training in tourism-related skills, limited tourism infrastructure, and low visibility and promotion of the destination. Opportunities are identified in the growing demand for sustainable tourism and the proximity to popular tourist attractions in the region.
To address these challenges, key actions and tasks are proposed, including training in tourism and business management skills, developing attractive tour packages, promoting them, establishing strategic partnerships, and implementing sustainable practices. There is also a need to improve tourism infrastructure, such as enhancing local houses for community-based rural tourism.

The initial phase will span over a 24-month period, with an estimated budget covering the costs of training, tour package design, promotion, partnership establishment, resource generation for improving local houses, and operational and administrative expenses. The ultimate goal is to boost community-based tourism in Kacllarakay, generating economic benefits for the community while preserving its culture and environment. With strategic planning, the commitment of local residents, and effective promotion, we hope to make a positive, long-term impact on the community and the tourists visiting the area.

For more info please contact our SAT Sustainable Team.