Peru, a popular tourist destination for Germans

Perú has become a popular tourist destination for German travelers thanks to its people, jungle, archaeological sites and, more recently, its gastronomy, according to the renowned association ARGE Lateinamerika.

ANDINA/Archive.
Tourists want to experience the lifestyle, culture, nature and cuisine while sharing with warm and friendly people, said the head of ARGE Lateinamerika, Andreas Gross.

"A few decades ago the average German traveler was interested in museums or cathedrals. What is important today is the personal experience, getting to know the context, incorporating the environment and cultural and social aspects, and Latin America has much to offer in this regard," he told Deutsch Welle.

The demanding German tourists visiting Latin America seek not only sun and beach but also culture and nature, there are some up and coming destinations while others are threatened by crime or high prices.

Although Latin America is still behind Asia and Africa in terms of long-haul destinations for German tourists, it is an increasingly popular region with interesting attractions and countries.

According to an ARGE Lateinamerika survey of tour operators, 61 percent of respondents recorded an increase in trips to Latin America and only 22 percent reported a decrease in 2012.