16:54 | Lima, Sep. 13 (ANDINA).
More than 20,000 bird watchers are estimated to visit Peru in 2013, generating over US$50 million in revenue, according to the Ministry of Trade and Tourism.
Minister Jose Luis Silva said Thursday that Peru will be hosting a new competition which offers people the chance to watch and listen to a variety of birds in their natural habitat.
The winner of the Birding Rally Challenge, to be held from November 27 to December 7 in Madre de Dios and Cusco departments, is the one who manages to identify the largest number of birds.
Silva noted that the country aims to attract about 20,000 bird watchers per year. The visitors, whose ages range between 50-75, spend $2,000 on average during their stay, he added.
Most foreign bird watchers visiting Peru come from the United States (23 percent), Canada, France and Spain (nine percent each).
(END) AQR/JPC/EEP/LVT
Published: 9/13/2012