For the sixth consecutive year, Peru received the recognition as 'Best Culinary Destination' in the world, while the Archaeological Complex of Machu Picchu was awarded as 'Best Tourist Attraction' in the latest edition of the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA), held in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, PROMPERU informed. It should be noted that the prizes are awarded based on the online voting platform of the organization in which tourism professionals, entrepreneurs and travelers from different places participate.
"These recognitions that we receive as a country are the result of the work we are doing to promote our tourism resources and our gastronomy. These awards help to highlight Peru in the eyes of the world, especially on top of the elite of the travel industry. Therefore, we will continue to work to maintain ourselves in the first place and to contribute to improving the quality of life of all those Peruvians whose welfare depends on the growth of international tourist arrivals, "said Isabella Falco, Country Image Director of PROMPERU.
According to a study conducted by PROMPERU, the main reason to visit Peru is to know Machu Picchu. However, gastronomy is already among the other motivations of travel. The same report shows that 82% of the tourists who visit the country consider Peru as a gastronomic destination, and 25% say that the knowledge about Peruvian cuisine would be growing in their countries of origin.
On the other hand, according to experts, Peruvian gastronomy is increasingly positioned in the world, which opens new opportunities for the export of our native products, as well as the opportunity to show our culinary traditions and continue to innovate with our admired fusion cuisine.
PROMPERU has been promoting our country in recent years with innovative campaigns that have managed to win over public worldwide. Continuing with this promotion, Peru has just launched the international tourism campaign 'Peru, the richest country in the world', in which travelers are invited to know our destinations in order to go back home enriched due to the sum of all the experiences that they enjoy in our country, such as exploring our ancient historical legacy or discovering our gastronomy.
In 2016, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu received 1.4 million visitors and shows an average growth of 6% during the last five years. According to Trip Advisor, 98% of the tourists that visited it have a positive evaluation of their experience.
Currently there are three Peruvian restaurants that are on the list of The 50 Best Restaurants in the World: Central (5th place), Maido (8) and Astrid & Gaston (33); and there are 10 restaurants positioned on the list of The 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America: Maido (1), Central (2), Astrid & Gaston (7), Osso Carnicería y Salumeria (12), La Mar (15) , Isolina (21), Rafael (24), Malabar (30), Fiesta (46) and Ámaz (47).
ABOUT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS
Since 1993, WTA have become an extraordinary barometer for measuring excellence in the travel and tourism industry worldwide. The winners are chosen thanks to the vote of the public through the Internet and the voting that the experts of the sector perform globally. According to the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, these are considered the 'Oscar of the Tourism Awards'.
These ceremonies are attended by the heads of industry, key decision-makers, chiefs, leading figures and the most important media of tourism and commerce. The WTA Grand Tour takes place in stages, with regional ceremonies in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean, Asia and Oceania.