12:36 | Arequipa (Arequipa region), Jan. 3. Colca Valley, located in Arequipa region, received 61,113 tourists throughout 2020, a lower figure than the one reported a year before due to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the country, the Autonomous Authority of Colca (Autocolca) has reported.
According to Autocolca Manager Winder Anconeira, 18,313 visitors were foreigners, while 31,345 were national tourists and 11,455 students.
Anconeira noted that the pandemic has affected tourism in Colca Valley by approximately 79%, since 287,407 tourists (173,938 foreigners, 59,320 national tourists, and 54,149 students) reached the area in 2019.
Colca Valley reopened to tourists on October 15 after being closed for seven months to the satisfaction of the sector made up of tour guides, travel agencies, restaurants, hotels, artisans, among others.