Peru to intensify promotion of sports tourism thanks to the Half Marathon des Sables

The impressive deserts of Ica will be the scene of the second edition of the Half Marathon des Sables, a sports event that will take place from December 3 to 6, according to the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism (PROMPERU).

Peru's great commitment to this type of event will strengthen the positioning of the adventure and nature tourism sector, increasing the flow of tourists from the main inbound markets.

"The interest shown by foreign vacationers in the Peruvian desert in the last six years has shown an annual growth of 49 %, while adventure tourism in Peru shows an accumulated growth of 111% from 2014 to 2018", said PROMPERU executive president Luis Torres.

He noted that events such as the Half Marathon des Sables have a direct impact on the economy of the region that hosts the competition, due to the expenditure of those who arrive in Peru for the sports event (organizers, runners and companions), because they consume services related to accommodation, transportation and restaurants, among others.

AUDIENCE OF 264 MILLION

According to the organizers, the race in Peru is expected to attract about 500 athletes, 70 % of them foreigners. HMDS Peru 2019 is also expected to have more than 5.5 million pageviews on social networks and to reach an audience of 264 million people in 160 countries.

Peru has hosted some major sporting events this year, such as the Dakar Rally and the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games, ensuring that sporting activities win the hearts of Peruvians. With the Half Marathon des Sables, our country will once again be in the eyes of the world, demonstrating our ability to organize events of great magnitude, the competitiveness of our athletes and the diversity of our landscapes.

RACE IN THE DESERT

The second edition of the Half Marathon Des Sables comprises a 75-mile run in the Peruvian desert over 3 stages of sport and food self-sufficiency. The route is secret and revealed a day before to the runners in the event.

The validation of the route is being coordinated with the Ministries of Culture and Environment so as not to affect the cultural or environmental heritage of the area. The race will not therefore pass through exclusion zones of archaeological or paleontological value.