Peru | Five Peruvian Destinations Received Recognition as Best Tourist Towns in the World by UN Tourism

Peru, nation situated in western South America, one of the world’s varied and megadiverse countries, a multicuiltural land home to a multitude of attractions such as the imposing peaks of the Andes mountains, a long Pacific coastline with several pristine beaches, the tropical Amazon basin rainforest, historic colonial towns, a land boasting various UNESCO World Heritage Sites, core of the iconic Inca civilization was recently protagonists with five Peruvian destinations which received recognition by UN Tourism, the United Nations World Tourism Organization, specialized agency of the United Nations based in Madrid, Spain, which promotes responsible, sustainable and universally - accessible tourism.

In a ceremony, the Minister of Tourism of Peru, Desillú León presented the awards to these five Peruvian destinations  that were selected by UN Tourism as part of the list of the “Best Tourist Towns in the World” initiative and they are : 

•    Huancaya - Lima Region
•    Leimebamba - Amazonas Region
•    Maras - Cusco Region
•    Quinua - Ayacucho Region
•    Sibayo - Arequipa Region

These five centres were recognized in a ceremony held in November 2024 in the city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia where UN Tourism delivered the awards to Mincetur the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru and they were distinguished among 55 localities in various countries for their cultural richness, sustainability and contribution to rural tourism.

It is important to mention that this achievement was the result of a coordinated work between Mincetur, local governments and the communities involved in the application and evalution phases of the towns in key areas such as the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, the sustainability of these spaces in all their dimension, their infrastructure, connectivity and security.

The delivery of these recognitions to the authorities celebrating the five awarded Peruvian v was held in the Huaca Mateo Salado, in the Cercado de Lima, and the event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Madeleine Burns, and Congresswoman Luz Maria Zeta, as well as the district mayors of Maras, Perci Huamán, Quinua, Rupert Límaco, Leimebamba, Luis Álex Zumaeta, Sibayo, Pepe Pedro Samanyani, and the deputy mayor of Huancaya, Carmela Sandoval. 

The Head of Mincetur, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism said that this distinction not only places the people of these centres in the eyes of the world, but also highlights their ability to preserve and promote their landscapes, traditions, gastronomy, and community values, integrating tourism as a tool for sustainable development.

The Minister Desillú León explained that beyond the technical criteria, what reallymakes this recognition so special is the spirit of its people.They are families, the local aritsans who shape history with their hands, the farmers who work the land with love and the entrepreneurs who open their doors to the world with hospitability and warmth.

Private investment has a very important and crucial role to play in transforming these recognitions into poles of sustainable development and investing in these centre in not purely profitable, but it is betting on life, on culture, on the deep Peru that Peruvians are so proud of.

During the ceremony, recognition was also given to the town of Cascas, a small centre in Northern Peru, capital of Gran Chimú Province in La Libertad region, located 2 hours from the regional capital city of Trujllo, which was received by the Provincial Mayor of Gran Chimú, Diber Pérez, for being included in the UN Tourism Upgrade Program, through which support is provided to a group of selected  destinations that are advancing in meeting the criteria established by the BTV initiative, recognizing Peruvian villages that are outstanding rural tourism destinations and in this way, these centres will be able to achieve enough points to receive the title of “Best Tourist Villages in the World”.

In a video presented at the recognition ceremony, the Executive Director of UN Tourism, Zoritsa Urosevic, highlighted that to date Peru has achieved the recognition of 13 towns by the BTV initiative and other three that participate in the Upgrade program and commenting that these achievements show that the country’s policies in this area are an example of Peru’s leadership in rural tourism and development. 

 Currently in a special ranking, Peru is positioned after China, with the second largest number of destinations that old the title of “Best Tourist Towns in the World”and in this list there are the towns of Ollantaytambo, Raqchi and Paucartambo, all three in the region of Cusco, Chavin and Huantar both in Ancash, Lamas in Sam Martin, Pozuzo in Pasco and Taquilo in the region of Puno.

Link  https://www.expreso.info/index.php/noticias/internacional/105303_5_destinos_del_peru_reciben_reconocimiento_de_la_onu_turismo