TravTalk India Online Magazine
The Commercial Office of Peru in India is undertaking a host of marketing and promotional activities in Indian cities to apprise the travel trade of various tourism opportunities in Peru.
Ankita Saxena
In 2017, more than 7000 Indian tourists visited Peru, registering a growth of 20 per cent over 2016, informs Luis Miguel Cabello, Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Commercial Office of Peru in India. He points out that the popular travel segment visiting the destination is usually the high-end leisure travellers who have both time and money to spend in Latin America. “Peru can cater to every traveller. As one of the world’s best culinary destinations, we have abundant experiences to offer to the Indian clientele. I feel with our aggressive efforts to engage with the trade, we can expect a growth of 25 per cent or at least 8000 Indian visitors to Peru,” Cabello said.
The average length of stay at the destination is about 15 days but some travellers spend over 21 days as well. “Earlier, travellers would travel to Latin America and visit three countries but since they were mostly stuck in long flights and at airports for transit than spend time in various cities, there is a shift in interest. Peru is now seen as a stand-alone destination,” explains Cabello. He further adds that some of the popular destinations visited by Indian travellers are Cusco, Lima and Machu Picchu. However, the Indian tourists also look out for unconventional places like the north of Peru.
“As one of the world’s best culinary destinations, we have abundant experiences to offer to the Indian clientele. With our efforts to engage with the trade, we can expect a growth of 25 per cent or at least 8000 Indian visitors to Peru.”
Cabello points out that there are daily flights available from various European destinations and the US to Peru but currently no direct flights are available between the two countries. He says, “India and Peru are amidst their negotiations of trade agreement and this means that an increased number of business travellers from India will travel to Peru and vice versa. We are hopeful that direct flights will soon be operational between the two destinations to boost traffic.”
Cabello notes that the Indian travel trade has been doing business with South America and Peru too but the destination will do its own promotions to increase engagement with the trade. “We are visiting key Indian cities to find the desired customers and travel agents with whom we can work. We will then offer Fam trips to help them get a first-hand experience of the destination.” The turnaround time to get a Peruvian visa is about 3-4 working days, believes Cabello. He adds, “Indians who have a valid Schengen, UK, Canadian, the US or Australian Visa do not need a visa to enter Peru.”
As one of the world’s best culinary destinations, we have abundant experiences to offer to the Indian clientele. With our efforts to engage with the trade, we can expect a growth of 25 per cent or at least 8000 Indian visitors to Peru.
