Hoping that Latin America will become the world’s next tourism hot-spot, Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism has called for continued and expanded investment ahead of the financial global crisis, considered to be a golden window of opportunity for Peru’s booming tourism industry.
“It’s the ideal moment for investment,” said the President of Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism, Canatur, Fernando Puga. “Investment can’t be held back, and won’t be. We, private investors, believe that this is the (perfect) opportunity to move forward with our projects, especially since the crisis is only temporary.”
“When the crisis is over,” said Puga, “Peru will have better infrastructure, better services and news circuits that will be, we are sure of this, as attractive as what we are promoting right now.”
Though the global financial crisis could and probably will affect the sector’s dynamism, added Puga, Latin American is likely to become the world’s new tourism hot-spot.
“Tourists who stop travelling to Europe will certainly begin to see Latin America as a new option because prices are still low,” said Puga. “We have to take advantage of this window of opportunity. Peru must be ready.”
Peru, where tourism has become an increasingly important source of foreign earnings, ranks among the world’s most popular tourist destinations. The diversity and contrast between its Pacific coast, the Andean highlands and the Amazon jungle, plus the archaeological and cultural heritage, traditions and folkore are widening its scope beyond Machu Picchu or its famed Nazca Lines.
Peru’s tourist calendar includes 102 religious, carnival, fair, music and sports festivities and events to enjoy year-round.
From January to August 2008, approximately 1,347,000 visitors arrived in Peru, up 12.4 percent from the same months last year. And, the tourism industry generated around $1.3 billion in 2008, reported Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mincetur.
According to Puga, tourism should continue to soar in 2009, and he predicts a 6 percent increase.
But, a recent $5 million cut in government spending on tourism will do nothing to help the industry, Puga added.
“These funds are generated by tourism, and cutbacks are not compatible with the efforts being made by business people. We hope that this decision is rectified as soon as possible.”
