Foreign Trade and Tourism minister Martín Pérez said that tourism to Cusco has recuperated between 60 and 70 percent since access to Machu Picchu – Peru’s main tourist attraction – was reopened April 1, state news agency Andina reported.
Pérez said he expects tourism to levels to Cusco to fully recover by June.
“Little by little tourism activity has begun to go back up in Cusco,” Pérez said. “I think the ‘Cusco Pone’ [tourism] campaign was a success and the arrival of Susan Sarandon also gave it very important coverage internationally.”
He said the ministry would continue to invite internationally recognized movie stars, including Sandra Bullock, to Cusco in order to promote the reopening of Machu Picchu.
Pérez said that Cuzco lost approximately $185 million due to cancellations by tourists. He added, however, that it was less than it could have been because January, February and March are historically slower months for tourism.
Machu Picchu reopened to tourists on April 1 after closing in late January due to flooding and mudslides that washed away large portions of the rail line leading to the sacred Inca citadel.
Current access to Machu Picchu is done by traveling by road from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Piscacucho at Km82, where tourists can board a train to Aguas Calientes at Km110.
