The Qhapaq Ñan Andean Road System Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
DOHA, Qatar, June 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
- In Argentina, it covers seven provinces and extends across over 118.5 kilometers
- The backbone of the Inca Empire, it connected productive, administrative and ceremonial centers.
- The Minister of Tourism Enrique Meyer highlighted that this announcement "will bring an influx of visitors which will generate work and social inclusion".
The Qhapaq Ñan, also known as the Main Andean Road was declared this weekend a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, during the 38th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Doha, Qatar.
As the backbone of the political and economic power of the Inca Empire, this network of over 30,000km in length, connected many productive, administrative and ceremonial centers, built over 2,000 years of Andean pre-Inca culture.
This international proposal to UNESCO saw, for the first time, six countries uniting - Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru - after more than 10 years working together in an original and innovative process of regional cooperation.
The Qhapaq Ñan road network and its associated sites within Argentina, cover seven provinces: Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza, extending along over 118.5 kilometers.
"The Qhapaq Ñan constitutes the link between these communities with their history, their ancestry, and their territory, as well as being an element which strengthens their cultural identity," declared the Minister of Culture of Argentina, Teresa Parodi.
For his part, the Argentine Minister of Tourism, Enrique Meyer, stated: "We are implementing a strategic plan to strengthen and take full advantage of the touristic, historical and cultural value of Qhapaq Ñan."
"The visibility which this nomination will bring to the Andean Road System, giving it an unprecedented status as a continuous transnational cultural network, will produce an inflow of visitors. This will make possible, in the medium term, the development of touristic services which, with good planning and organization, will significantly develop the tourism industry in the associated areas and create dignified work and social inclusion for the local rural communities," concluded Minister Meyer.
For further information please contact Rodolfo Milesi on rmilesi@brandinglatinamerica.com / +44(0)20-340-254-70.
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