Domestic Tourism in Peru Expected to Grow Significantly

The National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) projects that during 2022 tourism trips to the interior of the country will exceed 22 million. That would represent an increase of 50.68% over the previous year.

"Domestic tourism in Peru should do better this year than in 2021," said Carlos Canales, president of Canatur.

In total, in 2021, 14.6 million trips were made by national tourists, which helped to provide support to the national tourism industry. The increase in expectations for 2022 is due to the fact that more than 80% of the population is vaccinated.

"That means there is more trust. While many people traveled with the Delta variant despite its mortality, with Omicron, and with more people vaccinated, the situation will change. You have to generate more trust," he explained.

Regarding the inbound tourism in Peru, Canales said that more effort ought to be made in order to promote the arrival of international travelers. If so, the number could be as high as 1.5 million.

In 2021 alone, four hundred thousand tourists from other countries were welcomed. The president of Canatur stated that the reopening of land borders could help exceed that level.

"That (opening the land borders) will allow us to have about 500,000 or 600,000 foreign tourists," he said.

In addition, he pointed out that it is very important that the inbound tourism campaign now aims to project an image of Peru abroad as a biosecure tourist destination.

With the purpose of further promoting tourism, the Ministry of Culture reported that the citadel or llaqta of Machu Picchu expects to welcome more than 1,111,000 visitors during 2022.

This is the quintessential Peruvian tourist attraction, and last year it was not far behind in the number of visitors. Now it has been proposed that the country increases the figure safely. For this reason, the maximum admission capacity is 3,044 people per day, a figure that includes admission through all routes and at all times.

This established capacity complies with UNESCO recommendations and has been strictly set out according to the conservation needs of the monument.

Regarding the figures registered last year, the Decentralized Directorate of Culture in Cusco reported that Machu Picchu received 447, 800 visitors during 2021. This occurred despite the fact that, during the month of February, the citadel remained closed due to the restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so this year's figure is expected to be higher.

It should be noted that these visits in 2021 were increasing by large percentages, according to the required biosecurity measures and the visitor capacity established by the Government.

"We continue to work intensely on the care, maintenance and conservation of Machu Picchu, despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic; a pleasant visit is guaranteed for tourists," said archaeologist José Bastante, head of the Machu Picchu National Archaeological Park.