The tourism sector in Peru has been recovering well after the impacts of COVID-19, with visitor numbers reaching close to pre-pandemic levels. Peru is aiming to surpass its 2019 tourism numbers, and is actively promoting itself as a tourist destination in Canada, focusing on areas like adventure tourism, culture, and food that appeal to Canadian travellers.
Part of that promotion was on display Tuesday night as PROMPERU, the official tourism board of the country and the industry gathered in downtown Toronto.
“Canada is one of our prioritized markets to promote Peru as a tourist destination as well as trade and investment as well,” Jaime Cardenas Sr. Trade Commissioner PROMPERU Canada told TravelPulse Canada. “Canadians want time for themselves; they want holistic tourism, they want adventure, they want culture and we have all of that.”
Partnerships and coordination between Peru’s tourism board and Canadian travel agencies and tour operators have helped drive awareness and bookings for Peru.
Laura Albrow, Transat, speaks to crowd. (Photo Credit: Marsha Mowers)
Air Transat is the only Canadian airline to fly direct to Peru from Toronto and Montreal on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Copa Airlines and Avianca also offer direct and more flights are available via connections in the US which Cardenas says can help break up the 10 hour direct flight.
“People travel to Peru for many reasons, to see family, to have history, culture, food, architecture,” Laura Albrow, Account Manager, Transat told the crowd. “There’s so many different reasons why, and that’s why Transat made the commitment.”
Cardenas says Peru offers everything to every traveller.
“We have quite a substantial number of products that allows us to offer something for everyone; you want beach, you can have this. You want trekking? You can in the highlands. If you want to exercise your heart? Go with it. You want nature? We are pristine.”
Cardenas knows agents are important to growing overall visitation and encourages them to use Peru Agent, an online training with rewards and incentives. PROMPERU also visits one on one with tour operators and through ACTA, offering quarterly seminars to learn about their different products.
“We have a very rich culture, with cities that date back 4,000 years. The Peruvian population was actually part of the oldest cultures in the world.
There is a lot to show, to explore, to attract travellers. When we talk with people who have visited our country, they are amazed in every sense, of every place they went.”