Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-ir) -- Jean Paul Benavente, the Regional Director for Foreign Trade and Tourism has announced that Cusco is expected to have a total of 850 thousand visitors by the end of this year.

In addition, it was reported that if compared to the number of tourists that visited Cusco last year, a 15 percent increase could be seen in the regions touristic activity.

This rapid growth in tourism had not been foreseen. For instance, Benavente stated that a 10 percent increase had been estimated in this year's number of visitors, 580 thousand of which are foreign tourists.

The regional president attributed the growth Cusco has had not only to the fact that its Inca Citadel was nominated one of the New 7 Wonders of the World but also to the tremendous effort that has been made in promoting Machu Picchu, Peru as a tourist destination.

Benavente confidently stated that by 2009, Cusco would have 1 million tourists. He said, "The statistics aren't surprising because tourism has steadily been increasing since 2003. It should continue (upwards) so that by 2009 1 million arrivals will be registered."

Benavente also pointed out that it was important for tourist services to improve and for locals to warmly receive visitors. It was announced that special activities had been programmed for World Tourism Day and tourists had been given special gifts while they enjoyed typical shows and presentations.

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