Peruvian President: Tourism Is a State Policy

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo stressed his administration´s intention to paint a brighter picture of the South American nation as a top travel destination. To that aim, government officials will team up with members of the private sector.

In a meeting with international tour operators that attended the 11th edition of the 2005 Peru Travel Mart, President Toledo explained that tourism has become a state policy during his four-year term.

The country has been off to a great start this year and tourism has made a huge contribution in that respect. Peru´s economy grew at its fastest pace in two months in February as manufacturing output, construction, tourism and commerce expanded

Gross domestic product expanded 6.79 percent in February from a year earlier, compared with 5.2 percent in January, 9.1 percent in December and 8.4 percent in November, the National Statistics Institute said in an e-mailed statement.

The figure took the 12-month figure to 5.3 percent, its highest since 2001, as growth diversified beyond metals and hydrocarbons to include commerce, agriculture and fishing.

The economy grew on manufacturing output, which increased 7.8 percent, fishing, which rose 7.7 percent and commerce, which rose 7.3 percent. Agricultural output grew 5 percent and construction rose 4 percent, the institute said.