300 tourists stranded at Bolivian border because of mining protests

About 300 tourists, mostly Europeans and Japanese, are stranded at the border between Peru and Bolivia because of the strike against the mining concessions in the department of Puno, warned the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), reports Perú.21.

The head of the agency, Carlos Canales, said that foreign visitors had evaded the road blocks by traveling via Lake Titicaca, but yesterday the port was taken by the demonstrators.

Previously, Canatur announced in a statement that the sector has lost S/. 100 million since the protests that began 16 days ago in the southern highland region. He stressed that the strike damages the image of the country and caused the cancellation of hundreds of tour packages.

Meanwhile, all activities in the city of Puno remain paralyzed and 20,000 Aymara are participating in the anti-mining protests. The leaders of the province Chucuito-Juli, Walter Aduviri, and Yunguyo, Helmer Bazán, went to the Francisco Bolognesi headquarters in Juliaca to meet with the High Commission and other leaders of the strike. The meeting was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Wednesday