体坛英语新闻：Dakar Rally to generate 700m US dollars for Peru

LIMA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The 2013 Dakar Rally will generate Peru about 770 million US dollars for international promotion and productive activities in services sector, Peruvian External Trade and Tourism Minister Jose Silva said Friday.

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.

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

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

A total of 459 vehicles will participate in the 2013 Dakar Rally on Saturday, including 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.

Rally Dakar will end in Santiago, capital city of Chile, next January 20, after a travel of more than 8,400 kilometers from the Peruvian desert to the Argentinean and Chilean Andes.

The departure ceremony will be headed by Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and the massive participation of Peruvians and foreign tourists in the first stage of the legendary race.