Ayacucho eyes US$3 million in tourism revenues during Holy Week

Ayacucho, Mar. 26 (ANDINA).- Holy Week celebrations in the Andean city of Ayacucho could generate over US$ 3 million in tourism revenues this year because of increasing tourist arrivals, said Ayacucho governor Ernesto Molina.

"Holy Week generated more than US$ 1.5 million last year and in 2009 we expect there will be over US$ 3 million in revenues,” said Ernesto Molina, who detailed that this year's celebrations will be held from April 3 to 12.

During these days, local people and tourists will participate in religious ceremonies and processions, as well as cultural, artistic and commercial activities.

Molina pointed out that they have prepared a program of activities which include a series of measures to ensure the safety of tourists.

“Holy Week in Ayacucho is the world's second most important event of its kind, after Sevilla in Spain; this religious festival is becoming increasingly popular with thousands of tourists attending it every year,” he noted.

Molina explained that in the last years Ayacucho has usually received over 10,000 visitors, however this year and despite the international crisis, "we expect to attract more than 15,000 tourists".

Hotel rooms fully booked in Ayacucho for Holy Week

All hotel rooms in the historic center of Ayacucho city, southern Peru, are fully booked as Holy Week celebrations draw closer.

According to the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur), 14,000 tourists are expected to visit this Andean city on the occasion of its religious celebration.

Tourism official Rosa Lopez told Andina that there are a total of 79 hotels in the city of Ayacucho, of which 50 percent are located in the city's center and are fully booked.

Lopez said this year it is expected to receive 14,000 foreign and Peruvian tourists, coming mainly from Lima, Cusco, Ica and Huancayo (Junin).

She added that the regional government plans to hold a press conference next week in Lima to provide further details on the schedule of Holy Week activities in Ayacucho.

Regarding the security issue, she said that local authorities are to implement a joint plan with Peru’s National Police and District Attorney’s Office to provide security to visitors.

Easter celebrations in Ayacucho, which begin on Palm Sunday and end next Sunday (Easter), include processions, folk dance shows, as well as craft and cattle fairs.

During the first Sunday of the Holy Week, people do a remembrance of the triumphal entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem. Very early in the morning, donkeys and llamas, with herbs from the area, enter the city. Later those herbs are incinerated during the next Sunday (Easter).

Then, on Wednesday, the image of Jesus is venerated. All the pilgrims surround the image holding candles in their hands, and in that moment, the light from the city is turned down. Images of some other saints, taken from churches of the area, accompany this procession.

After that, on Thursday, people do their visit to 33 churches of the city.

On Friday, there is a big procession to the Saint Sepulcher. It begins during the evening from Santo Domingo Church. A coffin made of crystal with the image of Jesus that lays on white rose petals, go over the city, followed with another images and women from the city all dressed in black.

Saturday is the day in which "Morochucos", riding on horses, climb the Acuchimay Mountain with people from Ayacucho.

Then, on Sunday all the people wake up with the ringing of the bells from all the churches in Ayacucho. After that they go to the Cathedral, carrying out a very big image of Jesus brought back to life, this image is carried by more than 250 men. They go around the city, with many pilgrims, giving end to this special Holy Week.

resource: www.andina.com.pe