Peru is set to see a record year for inbound travel and tourism, with the sector growing nearly 7%, according to latest estimates from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
According to the latest WTTC Economic Impact Report (EIR), carried out in collaboration with Oxford Economics, it is projected that by the end of 2025 the sector will account for 1.17 million jobs in Peru – 6.6% of the total jobs in the country. This figure represents a growth of 8.4% compared to 2019.
As part of its record figures, expected by the end of this year, Peru is also preparing to reach $12bn in domestic tourism spending – a year-on-year growth of 6.5%.
As for international tourism, the global organisation projects more than $5bn at the end of this year, 9.4% more than last year.
According to the same study, the sector contributed $21.6bn to GDP, which represented 7.5% of Peruvian GDP, and employed 1.11 million people, equivalent to 6.4% of total jobs in the country.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, said: “Peru is on its way to consolidating itself as a benchmark for international tourism, the resilience of the country’s tourism sector today is reflected in greater economic development and more jobs.
“With clear lines of action, such as: growing international connectivity and greater promotion of its offer in destinations and activities, Peru’s tourism sector is positioned for a better future.”
Looking ahead to the next decade, the WTTC projects that the Travel and Tourism sector in Peru will reach an economic contribution of $34.3bn in 2035, which will represent 8.5% of the national GDP.
In terms of employment, it is estimated that the sector will generate 1.4 million jobs by that year, with the creation of 278,500 new jobs over the next decade.
Spending by international visitors could reach $9.4bn in 2035, while domestic spending is projected to reach more than $16bn, consolidating tourism as one of the strongest economic sectors and with the greatest projection in the country.
In 2024, the travel and tourism sector in Central and South America contributed $358.7 billion to GDP, representing 7.5% of the regional economy. This exceeds 2019 levels by more than 9%. Jobs in the sector reached 17.5 million, equivalent to 8% of total jobs in the region, with a year-on-year growth of 4.4%.
By 2025, the WTTC forecasts that travel and tourism in the region will contribute $372 billion to GDP, which will account for 7.6% of the economy. In addition, employment in the sector is expected to increase to 18.2 million jobs, or 8.2% of total jobs in the region.
