Peru’s tourism is still below pre-pandemic levels. Why hasn’t it recovered yet?

Before the pandemic, Peru was considered one of the top tourism destinations in Latin America, attracting around 5.2 million international visitors in 2019. However, the country’s tourism sector has struggled to fully recover since then. Between 2024 and 2025, Peru received roughly 3.2–3.8 million visitors (about 70–80% of pre-pandemic levels). Meanwhile, other countries in the region have recovered or even surpassed their pre-pandemic tourism levels.

What could have caused this slower recovery and why has Peru fallen behind other Latin American destinations that used to be on a similar level? Is it political instability and social unrest? Insufficient international flights availability? Insecurity or crime? Lack of tourist infrastructure? Insufficient marketing campaigns?

I’m Peruvian (and Limeña) and I’m asking this out of genuine curiosity. Over the past years, I’ve noticed fewer foreign tourists in places like the Historic Center, Miraflores and Barranco, that were bigger tourist hotspots in Lima before the pandemic.