Construction Completion Ceremony for Quiocta Cave in Peru: First artificially lit cave in Peru expected to revitalize regional economy and increase local incomes

On May 13, a completion ceremony for the Quiocta Cave, which was improved under a Japanese Yen Loan Project known as the Amazonas Regional Development Project, was held in Luya Province in the Amazonas Region of the Republic of Peru.

Many government officials and project stakeholders as well as members from the local community attended the ceremony. Representing the Peruvian side were notable figures such as Vice Minister of Trade and Tourism Madeleine Burns and Governor of the Amazonas Region Gilmer Horna Corrales, while the Japanese delegation included such dignitaries as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Peru Yamamoto Tsuyoshi and Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Imoto Sachiko.

Peru has long been renowned for Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines in its southern region, but the Amazonas region in the north is also blessed with an abundance of attractive tourism resources, including its nature, and the culture and lifestyle that has been passed down over the past 1,500 years through the time of the Chachapoya, Inca and the Spanish occupation. In addition, despite Peru’s robust economic growth in recent years, issues of poverty and internal disparity remain serious concerns, and the Amazonas region is home to a relatively high proportion of the poor in the country. In this regard, the tourism industry is expected to be an economic driver that contributes to reducing poverty in the region.

On the other hand, there are a number of issues requiring attention. For instance, i) important cultural heritage sites need to be conserved, ii) the infrastructure to receive tourists is inadequate, iii) tourist information to convey the beauty and attractiveness of the region is lacking, and iv) community participation in the tourism sector is insufficient, resulting in limited poverty reduction through tourism development. Therefore, the development of community-based tourism (CBT) through the appropriate conservation and utilization of tourism resources has taken on added importance. Furthermore, following the collapse of part of the Kuelap archaeological site—one of the standout tourism resources in the Amazonas region, and often referred to as the “second Machu Picchu”—in April 2022, entry restrictions have been imposed, significantly impacting tourism in the Amazonas region.

Against this background, construction work to improve the Quiocta Cave, the first tourist facility developed under the Japanese Yen Loan Project since 2013, has just been completed. The construction included the establishment of a museum, tourist rest area, access road to the cave, viewpoint, and walking trails and lighting inside the cave. Prior to construction, archaeological surveys and excavation work were conducted inside the cave owing to the presence of mummies and grave goods dating back to the Chachapoya culture (ca. 500–1470).

This is the first time in Peru that permanent artificial lighting has been installed inside a cave, and it has been designed to also highlight the beautiful stalactites, significantly elevating its appeal as a tourist destination. The museum and tourist rest area exhibit cultural heritage excavated in the surrounding area and provide information on the local culture, nature, wildlife, and more that has not been adequately collated or disseminated in the past. A national university located in the Amazonas region also participated in the archaeological survey and excavation work inside the cave, contributing to the training of aspiring archaeologists.

Furthermore, JICA is also supporting sustainable tourism development led by local communities through technical cooperation. Through such assistance, the Quiocta Cave will be able to attract more tourists as one of the core tourism hubs in the Amazonas region, and as such is expected to help revitalize the local economy and contribute to boosting local income levels.

At the ceremony, the Vice Minister of Trade and Tourism expressed her hopes for further economic development in the Amazonas region. She also conveyed her gratitude to the Japanese government and people.

In addition to the above, JICA is promoting various tourism and infrastructure development initiatives and will continue to support further development in the Amazonas region.