Fast food chains about to bombard Cusco in Peru
By Amanda Kendle on Monday, May 19th, 2008

I know many of you will agree with me that visiting any of the global fast food franchises is not something you want to do too often while travelling – checking out the local delicacies is a much more interesting way to eat.

Fast food chains about to bombard Cusco in Peru

So you’ll probably understand that I’m none too impressed to hear about the future development plans in Cusco, Peru. This town is the standard starting off point for a journey to the ruins of Macchu Pichu and a place regrettably haven’t got to yet, but really want to.

But unfortunately, as tourists start making a beeline for Cusco, so do the fast food franchises. The news goes that KFC and McDonald’s have already bought sites and are currently remodelling; KFC is going to be right on the main square of the old town.

On top of that, the Starbucks chain is looking for a similar location and apparently are prepared to pay a high price for the right spot. It’s a matter of pure economics, of course, and these companies are opening up there because they can make a fortune out of the tourists passing through Cusco, so it’s our fault, really.

But I know I personally hate seeing these kind of global logos and advertising in a pretty old town where they don’t really fit. For me, that’s an extra reason to avoid visiting these shops when I’m travelling.


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12 responses to “Fast food chains about to bombard Cusco in Peru”

Karen Bryan | 19 May, 2008 at 10:54 am

Well Amanda we could just avoid visiting these chains. I have to say that McDonalds etc are often very handy for their public bathrooms , easy to find and open long hours, when you’re in cities.

Nathan Midgley | 19 May, 2008 at 11:55 am

It’s a very head vs heart issue. The heart says keep big brands away, but the head accuses me of sentimentalism and hypocrisy - if I object to a Starbucks in Cusco, why is it acceptable to frequent the one round the corner? They are both, when it comes down to it, coffee outlets in busy towns. It would be interesting to know how Cusco residents feel about it.

Hopefully when they do descend the big brands will pay some heed to local architecture, or better still convert existing buildings. I was in Ghent a few weeks ago and noticed Marriott has made a half-decent fist of fitting in on the Korenmarkt.

Amanda | 19 May, 2008 at 1:52 pm

@Karen, I’m already doing my bit by not visiting those chains, but unfortunately that alone doesn’t stop them popping up where I don’t want them :-)

@Nathan, yes, it is definitely more tolerable when they fit in with the local architecture better, hopefully that will be the case in Cusco.

Darren Cronian | 19 May, 2008 at 5:42 pm

@ Karen & Nathan

Good points of view. I try not to visit these chains when I am abroad, in fact the only time I have is when travelling to Oslo last year.

The restaurants were VERY expensive, and McDonalds, was cheaper in comparison, so I had no choice really.

@ Amanda

Great post, and it would be interesting to hear how the Cusco locals feel about this news.

Nomadic Matt | 19 May, 2008 at 11:20 pm

wow! amanda! congrats on the guest blog! :)

I’m agree with Nathan, not because he has my middle name, but because he makes a good point. I hate the big brands but business is business. The problem lies in how the design it. If they design it to blend in, then its not so bad but if im walking in the old town, surrounded by historic buildings and the golden arches jump out at me, i’ll be sick….and not only cause mcdonalds is gross!

Darren Cronian | 20 May, 2008 at 12:00 am

@ Matt,

I wonder what planning permission they will have to go through, if any.

Oh, and Amanda isn’t a guest, she’s been blogging around here once or twice a week for the past month.

Which reminds me I need to put the author link in a more prominent position. :)

Erica Johansson | 20 May, 2008 at 10:42 pm

I was not happy to read this. I agree with you Amanda, KFC and McDonald’s do not fit in a town like Cusco. If I could decide, these brands wouldn’t even exist.

Amanda | 21 May, 2008 at 10:21 am

@Erica, you’re a girl after my own heart =)

Rohan | 22 May, 2008 at 12:55 am

The wife will be livid when I tell her this!!!

She didn’t speak to me for 24 hours when I went into McDonalds for our lunch, during our trip to Hong Kong a few years ago.

Darren Cronian | 22 May, 2008 at 1:03 am

@ Rohan

Haha Whoops, lesson learnt huh? ;)

Jeff | 22 May, 2008 at 3:20 pm

I don’t even visit the big fast food chains in the U.S., so I would never even think of doing so in another country. It’s really sad to see beautiful towns and cities change to accommodate tourists. It makes sense, but I wish it wasn’t that way. One thing is for sure — you will never find things like Starbucks or McDonald’s at Macchu Pichu…so I’m glad at least some historical/cultural/architectural marvels can preserve their identity and worth. Regrettably I have also not been to Macchu Pichu, but I am determined to visit it soon. Hopefully by then Cusco will not have changed too drastically!

Enrique | 11 September, 2008 at 2:34 am

As a peruvian guy who lives in cusco more than 3 years i have seen these changes coming since the beginning i came to this wonderfull place.
I m pretty sure that to many people they dont like the idea of opening these fast foods, but there is one already there a peruvian fast food “bembos” which looks with a low profile and fits with the main square and is great to have it here.
cusco deserves that people from cusco taste different flavors and also that kind of food , we have to be open to everybody..
i prefer good food but of course when i wanna try some greace staff i go to those places and its good to have them now in Cusco.

Just we have to be carefull to be without big merchandise as its already doing a peruvian fast food here.

To all of you folks thank you to come to my country

Cheers

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