• Peru’s President Ollanta Humala stresses Peruvian tourist potential in Spain. Foto: ANDINA/Presidencia.

• Lima, Jan. 26 (ANDINA). Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has invited entrepreneurs and investors in Spain to visit his country and discover its great tourism potential.

  He said that Peru offers a great variety of tourist attractions as it has nearly 3,000 kilometers of coastline as well as vast areas of highlands and Amazon rainforest.

  During a meeting with Spanish entrepreneurs in Madrid, the president noted that tourists traveling to Peru have the chance to visit historic cities such as Puno, Cajamarca, Cusco and Arequipa.

  "Peru has significant tourism potential, it is a country with history and was not administratively created," he added.

  Moreover, Humala pointed out that tourists in Peru can learn about the Incas, Machu Picchu, Kuélap, Sacsayhuaman, or the Nasca Lines, evidence of "the strength of the tourism sector."

Peru tourist arrivals to rise 14% in 2012
 

• Peru's receptive tourism up 14%. Photo: Andina

• Lima, Jan. 25 (ANDINA). The Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) said on Thursday that it expected the number of tourists visiting Peru to rise between 12 and 14 percent in 2012, as a result of more visitors from Latin American countries and increased public investment in tourism infrastructure, which would total US$450 million by 2016.

  Alvaro Benavides, head of the CCL's Tourism Committee, said that Peru has a great opportunity to attract more tourists after posting a 9 percent increase in visitor arrivals last year, according to the World Tourism Organization (WHO).

  "All projections show a growth between 12 and 14 percent this year and we hope that will happen. Latin America would be Peru's major source of tourists, unlike the United States and Europe, which would be affected by the crisis," Benavides stated.

  In this context, he stressed the need to promote tourist arrivals from nations in the region in the midst of a global economic crisis.

  Moreover, Benavides highlighted that some nations in the region such as Colombia and Chile are very interesting as they have been growing steadily; meanwhile Brazil is the sixth largest economy in the world.

• Peruvian gastronomy to be showcased in new restaurant to be opened in London. Photo:ANDINA /Archivo/ Piero Vargas.

• Lima, Jan. 25 (ANDINA). A new Peruvian restaurant named "Ceviche" will open in Soho, London which belongs to the former Apple executive Martin Morales.

  "This is an informal restaurant, where someone in jeans or tie can feel good, doesn't matter if this person goes alone or with friends. The level is not high, because it is not an exclusive site, it's for creative, interesting people in Soho and passing through Soho, which is the center," Morales noted.

  "As a client and amateur chef, as an executive, creative and businessman, I was frustrated because there was not a great proposal, simple and accessible, not exclusive, for me and my friends who do not know Peruvian food," stated the business leader.

  Martin Morales, who has lived in London for 26 years, knows that to succeed in the English capital, the most important is to know the consumer.

  The entrepreneur and his chef Alejandro Bello will offer a simple menu which includes cebiche, tiradito, causa and some anticuchos, as well as arroz con pato, among others.

  The restaurant takes its name from the Peruvian capital, where 34-year-old Martinez is currently chef patron of Central restaurant, which he opened in 2010.

Peru tourist arrivals to rise 14% in 2012
 

• Peru's receptive tourism up 14%. Photo: Andina

• Lima, Jan. 25 (ANDINA). The Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) said on Thursday that it expected the number of tourists visiting Peru to rise between 12 and 14 percent in 2012, as a result of more visitors from Latin American countries and increased public investment in tourism infrastructure, which would total US$450 million by 2016.

  Alvaro Benavides, head of the CCL's Tourism Committee, said that Peru has a great opportunity to attract more tourists after posting a 9 percent increase in visitor arrivals last year, according to the World Tourism Organization (WHO).

  "All projections show a growth between 12 and 14 percent this year and we hope that will happen. Latin America would be Peru's major source of tourists, unlike the United States and Europe, which would be affected by the crisis," Benavides stated.

  In this context, he stressed the need to promote tourist arrivals from nations in the region in the midst of a global economic crisis.

  Moreover, Benavides highlighted that some nations in the region such as Colombia and Chile are very interesting as they have been growing steadily; meanwhile Brazil is the sixth largest economy in the world.

Virtual Tourism Fair Peru - Latin America to take place in April
 

• Lima, Jan. 24 (ANDINA). Virtual Tourism Fair Peru - Latin America will take place on April 11-13, 2012 in order to promote the country's tourist destinations among Latin America's tourism professionals, Travel Update reported.

  It is expected that more than 6,000 potential buyers -interested in Peru as a tourist destination- will attend said fair based on the database which holds more than 12,000 addresses of tour operators, wholesalers and travel agents of the region.

  These potential buyers will be able to get in contact with exhibitors, download brochures, price lists, information of products and services, as well as photo and video slideshows. This will generate a valuable database for future events.

  Peru is the first country in Latin America which carries out this kind of tourism fairs.

  The first Domestic Tourism Virtual Fair took place in November and aimed to foster and dynamize tourism in the country by allowing service providers to offer promotions to operators and travel agents from Peru, via the Internet.
  
  

• President of Inkaterra group, José Koechlin. Photo: Andina

• Lima, Jan. 24 (ANDINA). Peruvian group Inkaterra will push ahead with its expansion plans with a new eco-tourism hotel in Cabo Blanco in northern Peru's Piura region.

  Inkaterra's CEO Jose Koechlin said Tuesday that construction of the hotel should begin next year and would be completed in 2014.

  Koechlin explained that the hotel will offer guests the chance to practice outdoor activities such as sport fishing and surfing with an eco-tourism concept.

  "Cabo Blanco is not only infrastructure, but a concept that involves the sustainable use and care of the sea as well as working with local people and regional government," Koechlin added.

Virtual Tourism Fair Peru - Latin America to take place in April
 

• Lima, Jan. 24 (ANDINA). Virtual Tourism Fair Peru - Latin America will take place on April 11-13, 2012 in order to promote the country's tourist destinations among Latin America's tourism professionals, Travel Update reported.

  It is expected that more than 6,000 potential buyers -interested in Peru as a tourist destination- will attend said fair based on the database which holds more than 12,000 addresses of tour operators, wholesalers and travel agents of the region.

  These potential buyers will be able to get in contact with exhibitors, download brochures, price lists, information of products and services, as well as photo and video slideshows. This will generate a valuable database for future events.

  Peru is the first country in Latin America which carries out this kind of tourism fairs.

  The first Domestic Tourism Virtual Fair took place in November and aimed to foster and dynamize tourism in the country by allowing service providers to offer promotions to operators and travel agents from Peru, via the Internet.
  
  

New Jersey to host Peru’s first food and drink festival
 

• Photo: AgroRural

• Lima, Jan. 24 (ANDINA). The First Food and Drink Festival called 'Peru to the World Expo' will be held in June in New Jersey, United States.

  The event is co-organized by Peru Agribusiness Association, Sierra Exportadora and Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (Promperu).

  The Peru to the World Expo will feature the "Third International Seminar on Food and Drinks, Peru strategic food supplier to the world," as well as the "Agriculture Investment Forum and the “Unica, por las Regiones del Peru” culinary fair.

  These activities seek to boost agriculture and fishing exports and promote Peru’s gastronomy as a source of economic, social and tourist development of the Peruvian regions.

  The Peru to the World Expo event was presented Tuesday at the the headquarters of Promperu in Lima.

Taca increases Lima-Santa Cruz weekly direct flights
 

• Lima, Jan. 23 (ANDINA). Taca Airlines announced on Monday that starting February 2 it will increase from three to seven the weekly flight frequency between Peru and Bolivia, in direct non-stop flights in the Lima-Santa Cruz route.

  According to the airline, these new frequencies will replace its flights to Santa Cruz, which stopped in La Paz; therefore, passengers will arrive to their destination faster.

  The airline flies directly and daily from La Paz to Lima, becoming the largest foreign airline with a greater offer in Bolivia, with 14 flights a week between both countries, seven to the Bolivian capital and seven to Santa Cruz.

  Taca reported that Colombian airline Avianca, with which it is merging its assets, offers five direct flights a week in the Bogota-La Paz route.

  "Thanks to said increase of frequencies. Taca and Avianca offer the public in general a total of 19 flights weekly, which will be of advantage to the passenger," Taca's Sales Manager Nani Garrues noted

Peru wants Dakar Rally to start in Lima
 

• Photo:ANDINA/Luis Iparraguirre

• Lima, Jan. 23 (ANDINA). Peruvian Trade and Tourism Minister Jose Luis Silva said he will travel to Paris, France this month to discuss the possibility that the 2013 Dakar Rally starts in Lima, Peru.

  Minister Silva will accompany President Ollanta Humala on his Jan. 24-30 trip to Spain and Switzerland.

  The Peruvian leader will hold talks with King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Madrid and will then attend the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos.

  "After visiting Spain and Davos, I will go to Paris to meet with the Dakar organizers on the possibility that the race starts in Lima," Silva told Canal N.

  Silva recalled that the final stages of the Dakar Rally in Peru were a bigger than expected success with more than 700,000 people turning out to witness only the Pisco-Lima stage.

  The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, or Mincetur, had estimated that 500,000 Peruvians will follow the 2012 Dakar Rally during the three stages from Tacna to Lima.

  Silva added that the US$5 million paid to Dakar organizers to bring the offroad race to Peru will help promote tourism and investment in the country.

World’s greatest chef heaps praise on Peruvian cuisine again
 

• Peruvian food. Photo:Andina/Archive

• Lima, Jan. 22 (ANDINA). Spanish chef Ferran Adria, considered the greatest and most influential in the world, once again praised Peruvian gastronomy saying that cuisine is used as a social weapon in that country.

  According to El Comercio online version, the former head chef of El Bulli highlighted the importance of Peruvian gastronomy in an interview with Televisión Española. “Cuisine in Peru is used as a social weapon. More than 80,000 kids are studying to become a chef and earn a place in this field.”

  Adria, who arrived to Peru in September to take part in the G9 Summit carried out in the framework of Mistura, stated that many countries are aware of what is happening in Peru and many international networks have made reports on this culinary and cultural phenomenon.

  During his stay in the country, the chef visited the Peruvian Amazon, Pachacutec Institute and filmed a documentary.

Arequipa creates regional plan to boost tourism
 

• ANDINA

• Lima, Jan. 22 (ANDINA). The regional government of Arequipa will launch a tourism plan aimed at increasing the visits of Peruvian and foreign tourists and maintain a sustainable growth of arrivals in the next years.

  The head of the regional office for foreign trade and tourism, Luis Venero told Andina News Agency on Sunday that said plan is a road map that will enable strengthen tourist activity, and therefore, Arequipa’s economy.

  Among its guidelines, the initiative includes giving priority to tourist resources of the provinces and determining regional and macro-regional tourist routes, Venero noted.

  In addition, the arrival of tourists is expected to have a 12 percent annual average growth rate

  He recalled that there was an increase of 13 percent in 2011 compared the previous year when more than one million tourists visited Arequipa, from which 188 thousand were foreigners.