More than 2.5 million tourists visited
protected natural areas in Peru last year, an annual increase of 14% for the past five years, the National Service for Protected Natural Areas (Sernanp) reported on Tuesday.
Jhon Rueda, expert from Sernanp's Functional Operational Unit of Tourism, remarked that 60% of the visitors are domestic and 40% come from abroad.
The protected areas that gained wide popularity among Peruvians are
Paracas National Reserve (Ica region); Lomas de Lachay National Reserve (Lima region); National Reserve System of Guano Islands, Isles, and Capes (particularly Palomino, Guañape, and Ballestas Islands), especially in the summer; and
Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary (Lambayeque region).
Their popularity is due to their proximity to the
capital city Lima, the connectivity, the infrastructure, and the wide range of tourist services available in said areas.
Additionally, long holidays and long weekends have contributed to increasing the visits to protected natural areas in general. As a result, they have become popular among domestic tourists.
In most cases, Peruvian visitors opt for recreational activities or plant- and animal-watching.
"They are more interested in nature tourism and seek ecosystems different from those in their home countries," Sernanp stated.
(END) LZD/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/3/2020