Peru Tourism Statistics - How Many Tourists Visit? (2023)

Page last updated: 29 August 2024

Peru is a captivating destination known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and world-famous attractions like Machu Picchu, drawing millions of tourists each year.

Overview

How many tourists visit Peru each year?

Over 2.5 million international tourists visited Peru in 2023.¹

In 2019, Peru welcomed 5.27 million international visitors, marking the highest recorded number of visitors.

When the pandemic began in 2020, this number dropped by 78% to 1.1 million visits.

By 2021, Peru experienced a further decrease of 63%, with 444,000 international tourists.

Inbound tourism rose to 2.2 million visitors in 2022 and 2.3 million in 2023. However, this was still 52% less than the peak year of 2019.

How much do tourists spend in Peru every year?

Domestic and international visitors spent a combined $13.4 billion during trips to Peru in 2022.²

Inbound tourist expenditure in Peru generated $5.3 billion in 2019.
This number decreased to $1 billion in 2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions. It increased by 4% in 2021 to $1.04 billion.

2022 marked a recovery year in terms of tourist spending, which amounted to $2.9 billion.³

International tourist expenditure continued to increase in 2023 with $3.5 billion. However, this was still 34% less than 2019.

Which countries visited Peru the most in 2023?

The leading sources of foreign tourists to Peru in 2023 were the USA, followed by Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia.

In 2023, the USA was the top source of international visitors to Peru, accounting for 464,800 visits, with 20.4% of the overall market share.

Chile also contributed about 16.4%, with 365,600 tourists.

Ecuador accounted for 156,900 international visits, with a market share of 6.8%.

How many people visited Peru in 2022?

In 2022, Peru welcomed a total of 61.6 million visitors, with 2.3 million being international tourists and 59.3 million being domestic travellers. This represented a 16% increase from the peak pre-pandemic year of 2019.

How much does Peru earn from tourism?

According to the WTTC, the total tourism revenue in 2023 was $18.6 billion. This was a 17% drop from the $21 billion in 2019.

Economic Impact – Peru Tourism Statistics

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) highlighted the importance of the travel tourism industry, showcasing new highs in GDP contribution and sector employment.⁴

In 2023, Peru’s travel and tourism sector experienced a substantial rebound, growing by 4.6% to $18.3 billion, which represented 6.8% of the nation’s total economic output.

The sector also boosted employment, with nearly 1.04 million jobs created, reflecting a 5.9% year-on-year increase and matching the employment levels of 2019.

What are the peak tourist months in Peru?

The peak tourist months in 2023 were June, July, August, September and October.

July had 263,123 visitors, driven by the ideal dry season for visiting Machu Picchu and the widespread celebrations of Independence Day.

December attracted 262,661 visitors, boosted by the start of the summer season, Christmas, and New Year festivities.

August welcomed 237,291 visitors, due to favourable trekking conditions and the cultural significance of the “Fiesta de la Virgen de la Asunción.”

October recorded 234,194 million visitors, largely because of the “Lord of Miracles” procession, one of the most significant religious events in Peru.

November reached 233,842 visitors, benefiting from mild spring weather and a variety of cultural festivals across the country.

How popular is Peru as a tourist destination?

Peru was honoured with four prestigious awards at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2023. The country was recognized in the following categories:⁵

South America’s Leading Culinary Destination
South America’s Leading Cultural Destination
South America’s Leading Destination

Machu Picchu was named South America’s Leading Tourist Attraction for the sixth time, reaffirming its position as a top attraction in the region.

Read more about Machu Picchu here.

Peru Travel Statistics – International & Domestic Tourism

2023 marked Peru’s recovery year with tourism figures matching the trend of both domestic and international tourists in the pre-pandemic years.

Pre-Pandemic Period (2012-2019): Peru experienced steady growth in both international and domestic visitors, peaking in 2019 with 74.2 million total visitors.

Pandemic Impact (2020-2021): The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism, causing a 31% drop in visitor numbers in both segments.

Despite the pandemic, domestic tourism showed more resilience compared to international tourism, reflecting reliance on local travel during global disruptions.

What are Peru’s top tourist attractions?

The following are Peru’s top tourist attractions and destinations.

Machu Picchu: The most iconic site in Peru, this Inca archaeological complex draws thousands of visitors every day, making it the country’s top tourist attraction.
Cusco City: Known as the Imperial City, Cusco is a must-visit for those heading to Machu Picchu and is celebrated for its rich history, cosmopolitan vibe, and UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Sacred Valley: Located near Cusco, this valley is famous for its stunning landscapes, Inca ruins, and vibrant Pisac market, making it one of the most visited tourist spots in Peru.

Maras: The ancient salt mines in Maras, with around 3,000 salt wells, offer a unique glimpse into Inca traditions and are a popular attraction in the Sacred Valley.

Moray: This archaeological site in the Sacred Valley features circular terraces used by the Incas for agricultural research, showcasing different microclimates and offering a fascinating ecotourism experience.

Other Travel Statistics by Country

References

UNWTO: Key figures and Statistics of Peru ↩︎
StatbankDK: 2022 Tourism Revenue ↩︎
OECD: International Tourism Revenue ↩︎
WTTC: Economic Impact of tourism in Peru ↩︎
PT: Awards of Peru 2023 ↩︎