Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:  

In view of the environmental and social problems that tourism causes in Peru, the Centro Bartolomè de Las Casas promotes the concept of "Responsible Tourism ".

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative: 

This means that it looks to changing the attitude of the tourists and actors of the tourism sectors, to eventually make tourism an activity based on respectful relations and partner-environmental commitment, generating economic benefits at a local level.

Mutual respect

We promote communication between different cultures; not only within a tolerance frame, but, within a frame of respect and valuation of the different abilities to think, to feel and to act for everyone's own development. We are conscious that tourism, being an activity in which contacts and encounters of culturally different people are common practice, can be shaped into an activity that allows developing a space of true and sincere cultural encounters for all involved parties.

Partner-environmental commitment

We promote equitable labor conditions, respecting human and labor rights of men and women, and relying on a continuous professional and personal development. We promote the use and effective handling of resources, utilizing natural activities that do not harm the environment. We depend on the involvement of the community in making relevant decisions relating to managing tourist development.

Local economic benefit

We promote the development of profitable economic activities: we introduce complementary activities within regular tourism activities, thus contributing to improve the economic income and allowing a worthy life to the people who develop these activities.

Since July 2004, within the program of Casa Campesina of CBC, we have been developing Responsible Tourism and Fair Trade criteria. Hence, the activities do not aim at simply covering a portion of the market but rather at developing a strategy that allows marginalised and excluded people from the Peruvian Andes to participate in this important sector of the economy of Peru, particularly in the region of Cusco. The participation of the rural populations is not limited to access to economic benefits, but goes as far as their participation to all levels of tourism: planning and management, decision making, as well as benefit of services.