Dakar Rally to generate $770m for Peru

Lima (Peru) - The 2013 Dakar Rally will generate about $770 million for international promotion and productive activities in Peru’s services sector, Peruvian External Trade and Tourism Minister Jose Silva said.

According to Silva, the race will invigorate the Peruvian economy and will increase the activity in the country’s stores, restaurants and hotels of the regions where the rally will pass before arriving in Argentina and Chile, Xinhua reported Friday.

Silva explained that this year Dakar Rally is expected to generate about $500 million for international promotion and about $200 and $250 million in services sector.

The minister reaffirmed his country is satisfied for being part of Dakar Rally for the second time, adding now the country shows a better logistic and attention capacity towards the tourists.

The rally originally concluded in Paris but was shifted to South America as the route had become highly dangerous due to the activities of terrorist groups.

A total of 459 vehicles will participate in theJan 5-20 rally. They include 189 motorcycles, 155 cars, 75 trucks and 40 quads.

Silva also said that Peru expects about 50,000 foreign tourists, including 3,200 pilots, mechanics and assistants from 55 countries.

The rally will end in Chilean capital Santiago January 20, after travelling more than 8,400 kilometres from the Peruvian desert to the Argentinean and Chilean Andes.