Bogus Travel Agencies Keep Popping Up all across Peru

Over 250 unlicensed travel agencies that operate in Peru, especially in the cities of Lima, Cusco and Puno, are pulling a fast one on foreign tourists through illegal sales, Carlos Canales, chairman of the country´s National Chamber of Tourism, warned this week.

Mr. Canales pointed out these pirate companies –most of them clustered around plazas and sightseeing spots- hold no licenses to operate as travel agencies, therefore the kind of service they provide is unwarranted and unsafe.

Despite mounting complaints from tourists that never got the service they had paid for, Mr. Canales noted there´re numerous legal loopholes in the Peruvian legislation that allow phony travel agents to beat the rap.