Government launches “Safe Tourism” strategy to guarantee travel experience and safe stay to tourists in Peru

The Peruvian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), presented the national strategy “Safe Tourism” which attempts to ensure a good travel experience and a safe stay for tourists visiting Peru.

“The ‘Safe Tourism’ strategy seeks to combat informality and insecurity in the Tourism sector. These problems can only be solved at the multisectoral level, through an articulated work between all sectors of the government, which will be promoted by the President of the Republic, Martín Vizcarra” said the head of the Mincetur, Edgar Vásquez.

He explained that "Safe Tourism" has three components: Security, Formalization and Strengthening. These will be applied gradually in the 25 regions of the country and will be aimed at consolidating the strategy at the national level with a view to the Bicentennial anniversary of Peru’s Independence.

Minister Vásquez said that this strategy also includes interventions articulated in terms of security, formalization and improvement of competitiveness in the provision of tourism services, strengthening the management of regional and local governments. Moreover, he added that the tourist will be informed about dealing with formal tourism services as a key factor to having a satisfying travel experience.

“We want tourists to feel safe in Peru and their travel experience focused on the wonders they met in our country. This will have a great positive impact on the competitiveness of Peru as a tourist destination. It is a great challenge that the public and private sector undertake in an articulated way”, he said.

This initiative seeks to reduce the percentage of informal companies in the tourism sector in order to meet the minimum standards necessary to provide a quality service and to improve prevention control, action and response to security problems in the sector.

Regarding security, the head of the Mincetur said that the operational capacity of the Tourism Police, the General Director of Captaincy and Coast Guard (DICAPI), the National Service of Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP) and local governments will be increased. To this effect, a disbursement of more than S/ 20 million in total will be made for the acquisition of trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, communication equipment, boats, etc.

“This investment will reinforce the Tourism Police with approximately 75 trucks, 55 motorcycles, 10 ATVs and some more communication equipment. Meanwhile, DICAPI will be equipped with eight boats and a checkpoint in Loreto and two boats and equipment for control and surveillance in Madre de Dios”, he set as an example.

He also commented that, through the “Safe Tourism” strategy, a High Level Tourism Security Executive Committee will be established while the Regional Tourism Protection Networks will be reactivated and strengthened.

In the medium term, at the level of formalization, Minister Vásquez said that the sectorial regulatory framework will be updated, tourism service providers will be trained and regional and local governments will be supported to strengthen their oversight capacity.

“Support will also be provided in the implementation of good management practices by regional governments; the development of joint operations with other entities in each region. Complaint processes will be facilitated for aggrieved tourists and legal mechanisms will be implemented for the application of effective sanctions at the level of regional and local governments”, he explained.

The “Safe Tourism” strategy is the result of an articulated work between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Production, Ministry of Health and the Public Ministry. There is also participation by private sector associations which include lodging establishments, restaurants, tour guides and travel and tourism agencies.

A recent study on tourism formality revealed that there is 55% of tourist informality in the Cusco region while 75% in Arequipa.