National Geographic promotes Peru’s tourist attractions
The prestigious U.S. nature magazine National Geographic has announced the launch of a comprehensive travel guidebook about Peru which features unique information on local culture, food, history and population.

With this launch, Peru will be the first country in South America to have a travel guidebook published by National Geographic.

The guidebook will be on sale in the United States, Canada and Europe from early February 2009.

National Geographic has published 58 travel guidebooks (Traveler magazines) on different destinations around the globe.

The annual sales of these magazines for each destination vary from 6000 to 8000 copies. However, Nat Geo is expected to release 17,000 copies of Traveler Peru (English version). It also plans to launch a Spanish version for late 2009.

Traveler Peru editor Caroline Hickey told PromPeru that the guidebook will be published given the long relationship between National Geographic and Peru as well as the growing number of Americans interested in visiting Peru.

"I find Peru’s ancient cultures fascinating and I really want to meet local artisans in their workshops, I would especially like to visit the Central Andes," she said.

Traveler Peru author Rob Rachowiecki and photographer Vance Jacobs are touring all the country's departments, placing special emphasis on Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancayo, Huaraz, Cajarmarca, Amazonas, the Northern Coast and the Amazon region.

Andean Parliament acknowledges lake Titicaca as natural world wonder
The Andean Parliament unanimously acknowledge Lake Titicaca as a natural wonder of the world due to its "invaluable historical and archaeological worth linked to Tiwanaku, Aymara and Inca cultures."

During a session of the Andean Parliament, held in the Chilean Chamber of Deputies, different aspects of the region were discussed, including the one proposed by Peruvian Congresswoman Rosa Leon Flores to grant Lake Titicaca the distinction of being the highest navigable lake on the planet.

On September 22, the congresswoman visited the cities of Puno and La Paz (Bolivia) and toured Titicaca, accompanied by the executive president of the Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT), Julián Barra Catacora, who explained the potential tourist attractions and importance of the ancient lake in the cultural development of its people.

On this occasion, the Catacora highlighted Peru's bi-national campaign with Bolivia to launch Lake Titicaca as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in the contest organized by the New 7 Wonders Foundation.

Leon said the decision was agreed upon to complete the necessary tasks in order for Lake Titicaca to be distinguished as a natural wonder by all member countries of the Andean Parliament.

For more information on the New Seven Wonders of Nature, go to the official website of the New 7 Wonders Foundation.

Machu Picchu increases in popularity in natural wonders contest
Living in Peru
Jobana Soto

According to the latest standings on the New 7 Wonders Foundation website, Machu Picchu is growing in popularity to be included in the 2010 New Seven Wonders of Nature contest.

The world-famous Andean site has bumped up five spaces to 54th in latest pollings.

After winning a spot in last year’s New Seven Wonders of the Modern World contest, tourism has increased in Machu Picchu by 20 percent so far this year, doubling original predictions.

According to Andina news agency, domestic tourists account for an eight percent increase to Machu Picchu with the remaining 12 percent from the United States and European countries like France, Spain, Germany and England.

The New Seven Wonders of Nature will continue its public voting process until 2010 where finalists will be chosen depending on their popular vote.

Only one national nominee per country and nominees shared by more than one country, such as Peru’s Amazon River shared by other Latin American countries, will be allowed to proceed to the finals.

For more information on the New Seven Wonders of Nature, or how to suggest a natural wonder from your country, visit the official site of New 7 Wonders Foundation.

Peru's tourist attractions promoted in Spain
In a bid to attract more inbound tourists from Europe, Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPerú) will present the Andean country's tourism offer during an international tourism event in Spain, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) reported Friday.

PromPerú will participate in the International Tourism Fair EIBTM 2008 to be held from December 2 to 4 in Barcelona, Spain.

EIBTM is the leading exhibition for the conference, incentives, events, business travel and meetings industry, held in the fantastic Mediterranean city of Barcelona.

Visitors to EIBTM will have the opportunity to discover destinations, products and services from 3,300 suppliers representing over 160 countries, free extensive seminar programme and networking events. Over 7,200 people attended this fair in 2007.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) noted that PromPerú's participation in this fair is important because it will underpin the promotion of Peru as a tourist destination.