News about tourism in Peru / T News

US TRAVEL AGENTS TO STEP UP PROMOTION
OF LIMA AS TOURIST DESTINATION
ANDINA. Travel agents in the United States plan to intensify the promotion of Peru's capital city, Lima, as a tourist destination, the CEO of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Tony Gonchar said.

"We aim to change the image of Lima, so that tourists regard the Peruvian capital not only as a transit city to travel to Cusco and Machu Picchu but also a place where they can stay more days to visit its attractions," Gonchar told Andina.

He added that the United States is currently the major source of tourists to Peru as around 359,000 visitors arrive yearly in the Andean country.

The ASTA CEO pointed out that the inflow of tourists generates incomes worth US$400 million per year.

"We would like that American tourists visit the different attractions of the capital such as its downtown, the San Francisco Monastery and the Magic Circuit of Water, among other beautiful places," Gonchar noted.

Lima's Main Square. (Photo: ANDINA)

WORLD EXPEDITIONS LAUNCHES GOURMET
ADVENTURES THAT INCLUDES VISIT TO PERU
ANDINA. A suite of Gourmet Adventures is expected to lure foodies from across the nation to exotic destinations including Peru, India, Bali, Morocco, Italy and Spain following the launch of expanded itineraries by leading wholesaler, World Expeditions.

Each trip will be escorted by a leading culinary curator and offers a unique insight to the destination and focus on finding the food central to the culture of each region.

"We have some delicious new adventures to take you on," World Expeditions, Marketing Manager, Adam Mussolum said.

"We want to showcase an appreciation for art, history and the cultures of the destinations we visit. Culture is also to share a good meal," Mussolum said, referring to the launch of the Gourmet Adventures programme.

The six itineraries kick off with an October departure to India headed by Masterchef Australia contestant, Jimmy Seervai, who was in the Sydney headquarters of World Expeditions on Wednesday to showcase a sampling of what would be on offer.

"We’re not talking about Butter Chicken, we’re going to experience some of India’s finest street food finishing off with a lot of Muslim cuisines," Seervai said.

Taking the tour through Peru in November, former journalist, Joanna Savill said guests can be expected to experience the culture first hand by tasting their way through local markets.

"Peru’s whole belief system comes through their food, it shows their national culture and history," Savill said.

World expeditions launches gourmet adventures
that includes visit to Peru. (Photo: Andina)

AIRPORT PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT JORGE
CHAVEZ AIRPORT LIKELY TO HIT 12 MLN IN 2011
ANDINA. Airport passenger traffic at Jorge Chavez International Airport (JCIA) could reach 12 million passengers by the end of this year, General Manager of the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (Corpac), Luis Vallejo, said.

“Lima airport has the highest passenger traffic in the country. Last year, over 11 million passengers passed through the main airport in Peru, and this year the figure could reach 12 million,” said Vallejo.

Other airports with high passenger traffic include Cusco, Iquitos (Loreto), Arequipa, Puerto Maldonado (Madre de Dios), Piura and Trujillo (La Libertad).

“Over 400 daily operations take place at Jorge Chavez Airport, including takeoffs and landings. However, this figure will increase significantly in the next days,” Vallejo told Andina news agency.

Moreover, Corpac's manager highlighted that the airport operations during the last five years increased by nearly 70 percent nationwide, driven by the expansion of new routes and the entry of new airlines.

Jorge Chavez International Airport. (Photo: ANDINA)

PERU’S TOURISM TO GENERATE
OVER US$11 BLN. BY 2021, WTTC SAYS
ANDINA. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) foresees that Peruvian tourism activity will grow at an annual average rate of 5.5 percent from 2012 onward, reaching a record figure which would exceed US$11 billion in 2021, Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) reported.

The lastest report from WTTC reported this goal will be achieved improving the competitiveness of tourism indicators.

According to Peru’s Bicentenary plan, the goal in terms of tourists arrivals is ten million by 2021.

The WTTC announced that Peruvian tourism activity directly generated US$6.35 billion for the country's economy, which represents 4.3 percent of Peru’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Such figure includes the hotel activities, travel agencies, airlines and other services of transport, restaurants and entertainment carried out by local and foreign tourists.

Tourists at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. (Photo: ANDINA)

PERU'S NORTHERN PROVINCE
OFFERS NEW ATTRACTIONS
ANDINA. Authorities in Contralmirante Villar, located in Peru's northern-most Tumbes region, will build tourist boulevards spanning the province's beach strip, which has become a popular attraction for visitors.

With a view to take advantage of the beaches and the hotel construction boom in this city, Mayor Edward Tito de Lama said his office wants to turn the human settlements into new tourist destinations.

To that end, a 180 meter boulevard was built in the human settlement of Jose Faustino Sanchez Carrion, with an investment of 420,000 soles.

Water fountains, green spaces, pergolas and sea access roads were built in the area.

The mayor announced that the third stage of the construction of more boulevards will be complete by late 2011, right before the summer season.

WINDSURF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TO
START TOMORROW IN PIURA
ANDINA. In order to promote tourism in the northern Peruvian beaches, the Regional Government of Piura has organized the 2011 IFCA Junior and Youth wave world championship, which will be held in Lobitos from August 2 to 7.

The event, which is carried out through the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur), will gather competitors from Belgium, France, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Aruba and Peru.

Other organizers include the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD), the Peruvian Sailing Federation and Peru’s Windsurf Association. The event will take place at Lobitos, one of the most beautiful beaches in northern Peru.

The world championship will also enable launching Lobitos as a sports tourist destination, to help promote job opportunities and encourage investments in the area.

Moreover, the regional government, with support of the Municipality of Lobitios, is to carry out a gastronomic and handicraft fair.

Windsurf

PERU’S AIRPORT TO OBTAIN INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT CATEGORY 3 STATUS
ANDINA. Peruvian airport concessionaire Lima Airport Partners (LAP) will complete technical requirements in October allowing Lima's Jorge Chavez airport to obtain international airport category 3 status.

The new categorization will permit the airport to land flights in zero visibility conditions, which currently have to be diverted to Pisco or Chiclayo airports.

According to BNamericas, civil aviation authority Corpac has agreed to provide a 2,818m2 area at Jorge Chavez airport to national tax regulator Sunat, which will be used to process customs duties.

Under the five-year renewable agreement signed by Corpac, Sunat and the transport and communications ministry (MTC), Corpac will provide the space free of charge.

The new customs area will include a new 68t pallet scanner donated by the US embassy, the ministry said in a release.

"Lima's airport leads the country in passenger traffic. Last year more than 11 million people traveled through the main airport terminal in the country and this year we could reach 12 million," Corpac general manager Luis Felipe Vallejo told Andina.

National passenger traffic has grown 70% in the last five years, pushed by new airlines and expanded routes, Vallejo said.

Traffic has increased at many airports, including Loreto region's Cusco airport which has grown from 500,000 passengers per year in 2005 to 1.7mn passengers this year.

"I figure we'll easily reach some 15mn to 16mn in passenger traffic by 2016," Vallejo said.

Jorge Chavez international airport in Lima.

CUSCO MUSEUM HOSTS PHOTO EXHIBITION
ON MACHU PICCHU SACRED TEMPLES
ANDINA. The Regional History Museum Casa Garcilaso in Cusco hosts the photographic exhibition ‘The sacred temples of Machu Picchu’ in honor of the centennial anniversary of the scientific discovery of the Inca citadel, Regional Directorate of Culture (DCR) reported.

The exhibit, which opened last Friday and will last until August 4th, showcases the work of Peruska Chambi and Alfonsina Barrionuevo.

Museum goers will have the opportunity to appreciate the research work carried out by Barrionuevo in the communities of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and of other personalities of ancient Cusco.

“The exhibition features photos from 16 sacred temples of Machu Picchu as a contribution of our history to the whole world; as a new perspective and appreciation for our culture,” the photographer noted.

This activity is sponsored by Xstrata Tintaya with the support of Cusco’s DCR.

The Regional History Museum Casa Garcilaso in Cusco.

MACHU PICCHU PHOTO
EXHIBIT OPENS IN BANGKOK
ANDINA. An exhibition celebrating 100 years since the re-discovery of Machu Picchu opened at the Emporium in Bangkok, making this weekend the perfect opportunity for viewing the photos and tasting some Peruvian food.

The Peruvian Embassy and the Emporium Shopping complex are responsible for bringing this special show to the capital of Thailand.

Entitled "EmporiumPeru: 100 Years of Machu Picchu World Revelation", the exhibition offers a collection of photos of this hallmark of Inca civilisation and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

On display for the first time in Asia are 30 photographs of the ancient site taken by Beatrice Velarde, one of Peru's foremost photojournalists.

Other activities running concurrently with the exhibition include a showcase of Inca handicrafts and costumes such as lucky clay dolls, pottery and painted gourds, which are also for sale.

They also include a presentation of Peruvian dishes including ceviche, causa, potato pie with chicken, tuna or seafood filling, and choros a la chalaca, the most popular appetiser along Peru's coastal line.

According to Thai daily The Nation, visitors can also sample wines from Peru's leading vineyards and the national beverage Pisco, an alcoholic grapebased drink that's perfect for cocktails.

The exhibition, which runs until Monday, can be found in the mall's 1st floor Fashion Hall. Admission is free.

Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. (Photo: ANDINA)

CHEF INSPIRED BY PERUVIAN ROOTS
OPENS EATERY IN MIAMI
ANDINA. On last Thursday, in celebration of his country’s Independence Day, Peruvian chef Diego Pilares has created a special menu at Cevichery Restobar, a new restaurant in Miami’s South Beach, United States.

His faves — such as papa a la huancaina and lomo saltado — will make their debut at the soiree, which also doubles as a grand opening party.

"Every [Peruvian] has a version of papa a la huancaina (...) my recipe is something I hold very dear to me," says Pilares of his version of the potato dish.

Pilares, who studied at the Le Cordon Bleu in Lima, takes traditional Peruvian fare and "makes it a little more gourmet."

"These are dishes I grew up with (...) that my grandmother would make for me."

His ceviche comes in all forms and flavors, including traditional seafood platters (with shrimp, squid and corvina) and vegetarian versions.

For dessert, he’s created a cheesecake topped with lucumas, a fruit popular in Peru. Pilares says the fiesta won’t be complete without trying a pisco sour, "the official drink of Peru."

Peru's ceviche. (Photo: ANDINA)

PERUVIAN STYLE ROTISSERIE
RESTAURANT OPENS IN MARYLAND
ANDINA. The secret at Maryland’s (United States) recently opened Pollo Cabana is a Peruvian rub used to prepare its charcoal rotisserie chicken 24-hours in advance of cooking, according to co-owner and co-manager Mehran Tamami.

Tamami and his wife, co-owner and co-manager, Rahil Sayadi, opened the restaurant this month after two-years preparation. Their Peruvian chicken took four months of testing 12 different recipes before they picked the winner, Tamami shared.

It seems to have worked. Since opening on July 11 Tamami and Sayadi have seen a lot of repeat customers — and that without any advertising whatsoever, Tamami said.

Judging from the feedback, he said, the yucca is also very popular, explaining it is halfway between plantains and french fries with a little bit of sweetness.

The chef cooking up the yucca and chicken at Pollo Cabana’s is Oscar, who hails from Peru. He was trained in the ancient city of Cuzco, which is next to Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world, according to Tamami.

Pollo Cabana’s specialties also include a mild yellow garlic and very spicy green sauce, which are both made fresh in-house. In addition to creating menu items to please customers, Tamami said he and Sayadi aim to give good value in a clean, customer-friendly, enjoyable environment.

From the time they decided to start a restaurant to opening the doors of Pollo Cabana, Tamami and Sayadi spent two years in planning and preparation. They were originally going become part of a chain, but reversed and decided to go it on their own. Now, Tamami said, people are talking to them about franchising.

Peruvian rotisserie chicken. (Photo: Hector Vinces)

Nota del Director: Esta información está disponible en el portal de noticias oficial de Perú, Andina, que contiene valiosa información en inglés. Es el único portal que permite el uso de sus noticias siempre que se consigne la fuente. Las noticias no han sido editadas por T News, solo facilitadas para que la industria turística puede compartirla con sus contactos internacionales. Muchas de ellas ya fueron publicadas en castellano. Es un resumen semanal. Sólo en este caso, T News tendrá especial cuidado que las noticias sean prioritariamente convenientes a la imagen del país como destino de turistas y nuevas inversiones.