Peru, the Special Guest to Berlin’s ITB

Peru, the guest of honor to this year’s International Tourism Marketplace in Berlin (ITB), is hurling a promotional campaign within the framework of this major event scheduled from March 12 through 16. As many as 10,000 exhibitors and over 130,000 visitors –including 70,000 travel experts from 180 countries- will turn up at the German capital.

Peru’s Trade and Tourism Minister, Eduardo Ferrero, is heading his country’s delegation to the world’s largest tourist tradeshow. Peru –Mr. Ferrero said- will cash in on this opportunity to foster its own travel industry, a sector that grew at least 12 percent last year.

“Hosting the ITB means that we’re going to be the stars of the world’s most important tourist fair. We’re going to be on the minds of all attendants, waving flags and banners all around the fairgrounds,” The Peruvian Minister pointed out.

The Peruvian government believes the impact of ITB will help the South American nation to overshoot the one-million-tourist barrier in the course of 2004.

Peru is determined to branch out its travel offers, not only from the logical point of being home to the former Inca Empire, but also by showcasing such new attractions as the Amazons and the Sipan Ruins up in the north.

Official stats have it that some 933,000 people traveled to Peru last year, up 12 percent from 2002. As to the ongoing year, tourist authorities expect to tab a record high 1.1 million foreign visitors.

Peru will also take advantage of the Berlin ITB to set going a new advertisement strategy aimed at highlighting its three traditional staples: asparagus, pisco (grape brandy) and handicrafts.