Domestic tourism is also expected to show a recovery of 26.4% to total 34 million trips, which would generate an economic movement of US$ 4,912 million, said the authority of the Ministry of Tourism.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) of Peru projects for this year the arrival of 2.2 million foreign visitors and that 34.3 million internal tourist trips will be made, which would generate 1.2 million jobs.
The head of the sector, Juan Carlos Mathews, announced the progress of this sector in which he details the actions carried out and the projected results.
-What is the impact of the measures that your portfolio implemented to boost tourism?
In relation to tourism, Peru's image is recovered in the international market. We carry out transcendental work together with the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism (Promperú). In March of this year, we launched our international campaign to promote inbound tourism 'Peru Now', which had three main objectives: minimize the negative effects produced by social conflicts, generate confidence in the international tourism sector and reinforce our positive image in our markets. strategic.
Our campaign began its deployment in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia with a 100% digital media strategy on platforms and social networks.
'Perú Ahora' or Perú Now, for the English-speaking market, far exceeded the objectives set, reaching 33 million people, 30% more than projected, and reached 35.5 million views of our campaign videos.
Ica, Arequipa, Áncash, Cusco, Iquitos and Callao, as well as our emblematic cities and districts such as Nasca, Gocta and Miraflores, complemented by our renowned gastronomy, were exposed in all their splendor with incredible photographs, high-quality videos and live links , demonstrating its beauty, uniqueness, tranquility and security. For the second semester we are working on a new campaign to reinforce our positioning, adding Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France and Germany.
–What were those actions in the case of domestic tourism?
Promperú promotes domestic tourism by promoting and marketing the offer of this activity on a national scale in the main source markets (Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Huancayo and Piura), developing various strategies and actions.
For example, the promotion of the tourism offer of the 25 regions of the country, through the development of campaigns that seek to encourage domestic trips among potential vacationers. The commercial channel is also strengthened with the participation of regional tourism service providers in fairs and business roundtables articulated with tourism unions and of national scope.
Additionally, the completion of the sale through the signing of strategic alliances with the private sector for the promotion and promotion of national trips.
To the aforementioned, we can also add the development of high-impact events that enable the dissemination of the tourist and gastronomic offer with the regional commercial chain, in addition to contributing to local and regional development.
–How is the tourism sector evolving to date and what is your projection for this year?
The tourism sector works normally. Peru's tourist destinations are 100% operational with the recent opening of the Juliaca airport in Puno.
All the actions that Mincetur implemented are aimed at achieving, by the end of 2023, the arrival of 2.2 million international tourists (10.5%), which would mean a foreign exchange income of US$ 3,232 million. Likewise, domestic tourism is expected to show a recovery of 26.4% to total 34.3 million trips, which would generate an economic movement of US$ 4,912 million. In this regard, tourism activity will contribute 2.5% to the national gross domestic product (GDP), which would generate 1.2 million jobs.
–In the case of mypes, what is the strategy to boost their activity?
For micro and small businesses (mypes) in the sector, the 'Turismo Emprende' contest was designed for tourism ventures for 8.6 million soles, with the readjustment of the Reactiva program for the credits of these productive units. In the case of artisans, the 'We Are Crafts' contest was designed for 5.1 million soles.
Regarding investments, the National Copesco Plan inaugurated tourism infrastructure works in the San Martín, Ayacucho and Tacna regions. He also coordinated the unlocking of investments through the Con Punch Peru plan, which has a total amount of 316 million soles.
Mincetur, in alliance with the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE), through the Lurawi Peru program, promotes more than 4,300 jobs with 90 immediate intervention tokens in various points of tourist interest in the country.
Likewise, to encourage inbound tourism, tax free for foreigners was promoted, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat).
In addition, the improvement of the migration operation at the borders was established in coordination with the Ministries of the Interior (Mininter), Foreign Affairs, the National Superintendence of Migration and Sunat.
–Is it necessary to continue with economic incentives for the tourism sector?
The Peruvian State must continue to offer economic incentives and financial support to tourism companies to help them recover and reactivate their operations. These incentives may include subsidies, low-interest loans, tax exemptions, and support for staff education and training. It is essential to promote and prioritize tourism promotion campaigns both nationally and internationally to attract tourists. These campaigns can highlight the country's tourist attractions, its culture, gastronomy and nature, and guarantee a safe experience.
The executive must invest in the development and improvement of tourism infrastructure in destinations; as well as in the diversification of the tourist offer. This may include increasing connectivity, creating new tourism products, promoting rural and community tourism, and conserving and preserving cultural and natural heritage.
Partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential to boost tourism. This involves working together in strategic planning, joint promotion, information exchange and decision making for the sustainable development of the tourism sector.
–Are the figures for domestic and inbound tourism available at the end of April?
Between January and April 2023, 662,891 international tourists arrived, equivalent to 45.3% of what was registered in the same period in 2019. Compared to 2022, an increase of 76% was registered, that is, an additional flow of 286,000 tourists. international than what was registered in the same period of 2022.
The influx of international tourists came mainly from residents of Chile, with 27.2% participation, followed by the United States (18.6%), Ecuador (10.3%), Colombia (6%) and Argentina (4 .6%).
On a regional scale, the arrival of resident tourists from South America represented 55.4% of the total (367,500 visitors); while North America concentrated 23.1% (153,000). Likewise, Europe 14.7%, Asia 3.4% and Central America 2.6%. In addition, foreign currency income of more than US$ 700 million was generated.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
The scope of application of the Environmental Management Regulation of the Tourism Sector (RGAST) is national in scope. Promotes that the investment projects, policies, plans and programs that are proposed to be implemented at the government levels (National, regional or local) of the tourism sector and that may give rise to significant environmental implications, are developed in a sustainable manner, as part of the National Environmental Impact Assessment System and its complementary standards.
Mathews details that the standard promotes the permanent articulation of state action in the exercise of powers in environmental impact assessment and oversight with the purpose of guiding and guiding the actors in this sector for the continuous improvement of environmental management; as well as the conservation of the landscape, biodiversity, cultural heritage, among others, involved in its areas of intervention.
“It provides greater predictability to those administered regarding the procedures to obtain the environmental viability of investment projects, ensuring citizen participation in decision-making in environmental tourism matters and contributing to sustainable tourism in the country,” he specifies.
On the other hand, it also promotes the environmental adaptation of ongoing tourist activities of those managed that do not have an environmental management instrument, in order to ensure compliance with current environmental regulations, granting a period of up to 3 years to present this instrument. , as appropriate, before the competent authority.
“The regulation establishes the environmental obligations that must be met by those administered, therefore it contributes to strengthening the environmental supervision and control actions of tourism projects and activities carried out by regional governments, within the framework of the decentralization process, in order to ensure compliance with the environmental obligations established in the approved environmental management instruments and/or current environmental standards,” he highlights.
