Cruisers will have more choice when it comes to river cruising in South America, when a range of new vessels set sail in the Amazon River over the next two years.

Peru’s Foreign Trade and Tourism regional director Gina Guerrero said new luxury river ships will sail along the Peruvian stretch of the Amazon River to the jungle region of Loreto, a Peruvian publication, Adina reported.

Among the lines expected to bring new ships to the region are Viking River Cruises and Portuguese company, Mystic Cruises.

Viking is scheduled to introduce two 190-passenger ships later this year. And Mystic is building two 220-passenger luxury vessels for the Amazon to sail between Peru and Brazil.

Guerrero said the four extra vessels will contribute to the Amazonian region’s economy, with wealthy travellers spending up to US$7,500 per day.

They will also increase the number of high-consumption tourists in Peru by nine percent this year compared to last year to 1.8 million.

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