Tourism ministers from
The ministers' agenda is focused on innovation and the use of digital tools to facilitate the transition of informal stakeholders to the formal economy; resilient tourism and optimizing sustainable tourism supply chains; plus, reducing food loss and waste in APEC economies.
In her opening remarks at the
12th Tourism Ministerial Meeting,
Minister Elizabeth Galdo highlighted that
50% of Peru's annual international tourists come from APEC economies.
"The arrival of tourists to Peru from the Asia-Pacific region accounted for over 52% of total arrivals, representing an increase of 50.6% compared to the same period in 2023," Galdo said.
"This recovery represents almost 69% of pre-pandemic levels for the same period," she added.
Minister Galdo explained that the
Inca citadel of Machu Picchu —80 kilometers northwest of Cusco— attracted close to one million visitors in 2023, making Cusco one of the most important drivers of economic development in Peru.
"More than that, balancing the conservation of the historic site and increasing the numbers of visitors to the site has demonstrated Peru's commitment to developing sustainable and innovative tourism," Galdo noted.
"Initiatives that include planning and management of this important tourist site, as well as improving its dynamic capacity, will help preserve the buildings of Machu Picchu and the communities around it. (…) We are aware that there is still much to learn and to do," she added.
According to the government official, Peru is eager to strengthen APEC initiatives that will make tourism a sustainable, innovative, and inclusive sector in tune with the current circumstances.
"We are ready to confront the tasks ahead," she expressed.
In line with the overarching theme of
"Empower. Include. Grow," Peru has set its tourism priorities to advance innovative approaches to address current challenges in the tourism sector. This includes formalizing businesses, as well as fostering sustainability and resilience to realize the full economic potential of all people.
Leveraging digital technologies to improve efficiency, transparency, and resilience of the tourism sector were highlighted during the meeting as it can empower micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises to transition to the formal economy and gain market access.
"We must continue our cooperation, exchange ideas, identify best practices, and formulate joint strategies that promote sustainable growth and competitiveness in the tourism industry in our region, leaving a positive legacy for future generations," Minister Galdo concluded.