Over 30,000 tourists to visit Arequipa city on 468th Foundation Anniversary
August 6, 2008 - Andina

(left) Main Square of Arequipa. Photo:ANDINA/ Norman Córdova

Arequipa, Aug. 03 (ANDINA).- The southern Peruvian city of Arequipa, 1,011km (633.8 miles) from Lima, expects to receive more than 30,000 tourists during celebrations of its 468th Spanish foundation anniversary on August 15, said today the regional director of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Rocío Cervantes.

Since early August, the city of Arequipa is celebrating its anniversary with serenades and in the next days it will organize cultural activities, exhibitions and fashion shows in order to attract more visitors, she told Andina news agency.

Cervantes added that, in previous years, Arequipa received more than 30,000 tourists and this year it is expected to draw a major number of visitors given Arequipa's increased hotel capacity.

The hotel supply has significantly increased in the last years and expectations are high with regard to what it can generate as tourist revenues this month, she added.

When asked about tourist services for travellers, Cervantes said that they have been greatly improved for both domestic and foreign visitors.

“The city is working hard to provide better security conditions and will soon launch a Tourist Protection Network, which promotes coordination among hotels, restaurants, and taxi companies to protect local and foreign tourists", she noted.