Tourism

With the Peruvian government intent on diversifying the economy away from mineral resources, the tourism sector is slowly becoming a strategic economic contributor. The sector has experienced unprecedented development in the past decade. According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism in 2013 international arrivals increased 11% to 3.16m, a growth rate above the regional (5.1%) and world averages (4.6%) as measured by the World Travel and Tourism Council. Peru hopes to reach 3.5m foreign visitors in 2014. Sector revenues also rose by an impressive 28% in 2013, from just over $3bn in 2012 to $3.9bn, making tourism the third-most-important source of revenue to the national economy. Government efforts to bridge the transport infrastructure gap are set to improve connectivity significantly, while rising demand for accommodation and services, in large part fuelled by a growing meetings, incentives, conferences and events segment, is driving investment in the hotel industry.

This chapter contains an interview with María del Carmen de Reparaz, Vice-Minister of Tourism.