For first time, Peru was chosen to hold the presidency of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness (CTC), Peruvian Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Magali Silva announced.
Thus, Peru will be allowed to lead the discussion agenda on tourism competitiveness during the period marked between 2015 and 2017.
Among the country's main actions are: Assessing the quantification on tourism competitiveness in the world, as well as identifying, developing and harmonizing concepts, models and definitions implemented in the tourism value chain and promoting the UNWTO role.
Sustained Growth
Peru was elected thanks to sustained growth and tourism diversification, Silva highlighted.
"Our country has climbed 15 spots on the latest World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015 [...] as a result of the significant progress reached so far," she indicated.
At the same time, Silva emphasized tourism expanded by 24% thanks to international tourist arrivals recorded between 2011 and 2014. Thus, it became Peru’s most important non-traditional sector.
Likewise, she underlined tourism contribution to job creation. According to the government official, it added 1.3 million positions and accounted for 4% of GDP.
Peru hosts 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and seven cultural manifestations included on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
(END) JJN/HMC/MVB
Published: 12/6/2015