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Video transcript

Madeleine: Tell me about Peru's tourism landscape... How are visitor numbers faring right now?

Ricardo: Hello, good morning. I'm glad to be here in the WTM today with you. Numbers in Peru from tourism from the UK are increasing. We're very glad for that. Until September we had more than 52,000 visitors, and our growth is currently 17%, so it's been a very good year for UK visitors. 

Madeleine: Amazing news. What is it that makes Peru such a unique destination? 

Ricardo: Well, Peru is a mega diversity place, so we have a lot to offer. We have a lot of places to visit. We have people who are very warm, so that makes our country very attractive.

Madeleine: Fab. I hear Peru has been nominated for and won a few awards recently. Can you tell us more about those? 

Ricardo: Yeah, that's true. We have just received yesterday an award from Lonely Planet for the most attractive destination and also one for our experiences in Peru, in the Amazon jungle. We have also been awarded by three tour operators and have been nominated for sustainability. We are also nominated by Wanderlust for the special destination in the world. So we're waiting for that too. 

Madeleine: Congratulations, that's amazing news. Peru is a vast and varied destination, so where exactly are you recommending agents send their clients right now?

Ricardo: Yes, that's true. We have icons like Cusco and Machu Picchu, but besides that, we have other things to offer. We have Arequipa, for instance, which is the White City surrounded by volcanos and we have the Colca Canyon too, which is the deepest canyon in America, even deeper than Colorado's canyon. It's a wonderful place to go. And we also have Lake Titicaca, which is the highest navigable lake in the world. We also have one of the driest deserts on the planet for instance, the Ica Desert, where you can go and see the sands with the big, huge dunes. And we have the Amazon, where you can experience life there. We have very, very nice lodges, where you can stay.

Madeleine: Plenty to choose from then. I hear Peru's gastronomy scene is thriving at the moment. Can you tell me more about what there is to offer foodies? 

Ricardo: Yes. That's another thing that we feel proud of. We have this year had four restaurants that are in the top restaurants in South America. And we have two restaurants that have been awarded as the best in the world. In 2023 and this year, we have the best restaurant in the world. 

Madeleine: Amazing. And finally, what about nature and adventure? What is there to offer tourists who really want to get back to nature?

Ricardo: Yes, we're working very hard on that. We started this year with a new event, which is called Outdoor Adventure. We have this big event in the north of Lima, close to the Andes. And Peru has a lot to offer in nature, in adventure, hiking; not only the Inca Trail, but we have a lot of trails around the country for adventurerers. I think it's a very, very spectacular place where you can enjoy our wonderful nature and have this wonderful experience and adventure. 

Madeleine: Amazing. Thank you very much, Ricardo. 

Ricardo: Thank you. It's a pleasure.