The Development Impact of Rural Tourism in Peru's Colca Valley: Linking Grassroots and Structuralist Perspectives

<p>Theories of Latin American underdevelopment have converged on neostructuralist approaches, which aim to promote more inclusive development through diversified economic activities with links to international markets. These include alternative forms of tourism, which are claimed to provide economic benefits to historically marginalised areas while supporting and enhancing traditional livelihoods. This study aimed to assess these claims by taking a broad political economy approach to evaluating the impact of rural tourism in the Colca Valley of southern Peru. Detailed case studies of two contrasting localities were linked with analysis of the wider economic, political and social context. Field research in one case study area found that tourism had created opportunities for local families with existing skills and resources and had provided useful additional income for others but had involved only a minority of residents. Loss of control of tourism to the regional metropolis and destructive competition had resulted in diminishing returns and general dissatisfaction with the “disorderly” nature of tourism development. In another case study locality, a more cohesive social context and intensive support from external institutions had allowed the planned development of a rural tourism project that emphasised broad community participation, but the low tourist volumes to date were a constraint on progress. Nevertheless, throughout the Colca Valley tourism had contributed to the revalorization of local culture and identity and provided a platform for local selfassertion. The thesis argues that an appreciation of the wider economic and political context in Peru is crucial to understanding the way tourism has evolved in the case study areas. It suggests that more work to link local, grassroots perspectives with broad structuralist analysis would represent a fruitful research agenda in development studies.</p>

The Development Impact of Rural Tourism in Peru's Colca Valley: Linking Grassroots and Structuralist Perspectives

<p>Theories of Latin American underdevelopment have converged on neostructuralist approaches, which aim to promote more inclusive development through diversified economic activities with links to international markets. These include alternative forms of tourism, which are claimed to provide economic benefits to historically marginalised areas while supporting and enhancing traditional livelihoods. This study aimed to assess these claims by taking a broad political economy approach to evaluating the impact of rural tourism in the Colca Valley of southern Peru. Detailed case studies of two contrasting localities were linked with analysis of the wider economic, political and social context. Field research in one case study area found that tourism had created opportunities for local families with existing skills and resources and had provided useful additional income for others but had involved only a minority of residents. Loss of control of tourism to the regional metropolis and destructive competition had resulted in diminishing returns and general dissatisfaction with the “disorderly” nature of tourism development. In another case study locality, a more cohesive social context and intensive support from external institutions had allowed the planned development of a rural tourism project that emphasised broad community participation, but the low tourist volumes to date were a constraint on progress. Nevertheless, throughout the Colca Valley tourism had contributed to the revalorization of local culture and identity and provided a platform for local selfassertion. The thesis argues that an appreciation of the wider economic and political context in Peru is crucial to understanding the way tourism has evolved in the case study areas. It suggests that more work to link local, grassroots perspectives with broad structuralist analysis would represent a fruitful research agenda in development studies.</p>

EMS at 3600 Meters: Exploring Barriers to Emergency Care and Transport in Rural Andean Perú

Background: Given the demonstrated success of programs that bolster informal Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems in other low- and middle-income counties (LMICs), this study aimed to explore formal and informal systems, practices, customs, and structures for emergency response and medical transport in Colca Valley, Perú while identifying possible opportunities for future intervention. Methods: Twenty-two interviews with first responders and community members were conducted in three mountain villages throughout rural Andean Colca Valley of Perú. Subjects were recruited based on profession and experience with medical emergencies in the area. Transcripts were entered into Dedoose, coded, and analyzed to identify themes. Results: Providers and community members shared similar perceptions on the most common barriers to emergency care and transport. Challenges experienced equally by both groups were identified as “structural problems,” such as lack of infrastructure, lack of structured care delivery, and unclear protocols. Incongruities of responses between groups emerged with regard to certain barriers to care. Providers perceived baseline health education and use of home remedies as significant barriers to seeking care, which was not proportionally corroborated by community members. In contrast, 86% of community members cited lack of trust in health providers as a major barrier. Community members often noted witnessing a high frequency of emergency events, their personal experiences of helping, and the formal utilization of lay providers. When specifically questioned on their willingness to engage in first aid training, all participants were in agreement. Conclusion: While structural changes such as increased infrastructure would likely be the most durable improvement, future interventions focused on both empowering community members and improving the relationship between the health center and the community would be beneficial in this community. Additionally, these interview data suggest that a layperson first aid training program would be feasible and well-received.