Tourists Spent $20 Million during the Americas Soccer Cup

The Americas Soccer Cup that came to a close Saturday in Peru brought in as many as 20,000 foreign tourists who shelled out $25 million in the country, Arturo Woodman, president of the Cup´s Organizing Committee, said this week.

Ticket sales amounted to $4.7 million in just 17 days as 430,000 soccer fans watched the games in seven Peruvian cities.

Endorsements did their own by chipping in $800,000 and generating expenses for up to $3.5 million. Overall revenues for the Organizing Committee totaled $2 million.

On the other hand, the National Tourism Chamber reported that some 4,500 tourists came to Peru through travel packages, while hotel occupancy swayed between 50 and 85 percent in all cities linked to the sport event.

Foreign visitors forked over some $20 million in hotel fares, food, transportation and shopping sprees of souvenirs and keepsakes.