Peru. A bill currently underway in Congress would force Peruvian shopping centers to offer free parking for their customers if they make a minimum consumption in the facilities, a measure that according to the Association of Shopping Centers (ACCEP) of this country would decrease investment in this sector.
In statements to local media, the president of the ACCEP, José Antonio Contreras, said that the measure would increase the value of the investment necessary for the realization of future projects, as well as the maintenance costs of the shopping centers in operation since these would not be amortized by the income from the payment of parking by users.
"This would affect the expected profitability of companies. It would dampen investment expectations. Lawmakers are affecting the free market economy," he said.
The official also pointed out that each shopping center should have autonomy to determine the charge, or not, of this service since the conditions in terms of location, price of the land, number of visitors, among other variables, can affect the need to establish different business models depending on the establishment.
