Junin region, one of Peru's fastest growing destinations for domestic tourists, expects to close the year with over one million visitors, according to the regional Foreign Trade and Tourism office.
"We've had highly positive results. Hotel companies, for instance, are satisfied with the tourist influx generated throughout the year and, based on the [upward] trend, we expect to break last year's record one million visitors," said Junin's Foreign Trade and Tourism Director Michele Antignani.
Having consolidated its position among Peru's interior leading destinations, Junin is gearing up to "take the big leap" in the tourism industry.
This year, 100,000 tourists visited the region during national holidays, drawn by promotion efforts and events in various advertising outlets in Lima.
And even more visitors —from the capital and other regions— arrived on November 17-19, declared as non-working holidays due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum's Summit.
Flocks of holidaymakers took advantage of the 3-day holiday to enjoy Junin's main natural and archaeological attractions, Antignani said.
In this sense, the official highlighted the tourism sector's role as a source of employment in Junin, offering major economic and social development opportunities for the population.
But this highland region still faces a number of challenges, including transport and connectivity issues.
Traffic caused by heavy transport in the Central Highway, for instance, is a turn-off for visitors, who are discouraged by the time spent on the road.
In this respect, Antignani said he is confident the government and the Transport and Communications Ministry will work out a way to enhance Junin's connectivity, boosting alternative access routes.
(END) JCR/MAO/DHT/MVB