Lima, Sep. 08 (ANDINA).

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala on Thursday will open the fourth edition of the International Gastronomic Festival Mistura, to take place September 8-18 in Lima. According to the presidential press office, the ceremony is to be held at 11.00 hours (16.00 GMT) at Parque de la Exposicion. This annual event, organised by the Peruvian Society of Gastronomy (Apega), showcases the best of Perus unique cuisine under one roof. Due to its increasing popularity, this year Mistura is expecting over 300,000 visitors, and the festival has been extended four days. This year Mistura's main theme will be Perus emblematic fruits grown in the coastal, highland and jungle regions. This display, in addition to the endless variety of food to enjoy, will guarantee that everyone finds something that satisfies its palate. This year Mistura has provided the forum for nine of the world's most famous chefs representing Asia, Europe, North and South America, to gather in Lima for the second meeting of the International Advisory Council of Spains Basque Culinary Center. This advisory council aims to turn gastronomy into a channel of opportunities for all and is chaired by Spanish chef Ferran Adria and attended by the worlds most renowned chefs such as Perus own Gaston Acurio, Rene Redzepi (Denmark), Yukio Hattori (Japan), Massimo Bottura (Italy), Michel Bras (France), Dan Barber (United States), Alex Atala (Brazil) and Heston Bluementhal (United Kingdom). Foreign tourists can immerse themselves in discovering Peruvian cuisine at Mistura by attending seminars, conferences, keynote speakers, demonstrations and tastings. For those with a sweet tooth, there will be a special area focused on chocolate and Peruvian desserts and a large area dedicated to all the varieties and brands of Peru's national drink, Pisco. Mistura is also aiming to find Perus next gastronomic extraordinaire through a number of competitions and contests. Entrants will be competing in categories such as Best Young Cook, Best Young Pastry Cook and Best Baker'. Also competitions between different culinary schools from around the country will take place. Organizers have reported that about four thousand tourists will come from abroad to the 2011 Mistura Food Festival, to be held from September 9 to 18 in Lima. Pedro Cordova, Mistura operations manager, announced that an airline is developing a promotional campaign to bring visitors to Mistura from other parts of the country, like Piura, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Cusco, Arequipa and Tarapoto. The offer would offer a complete package including air fare, transport and accommodation and free entry to the show on three dates," he explained Cordova said that this year Mistura expects to receive 280 thousand to 300 thousand visitors and the massive purchase of 50,000 tickets at the presale stage reflects the enthusiasm of people to participate in the largest food fair in America. According to an article in Andina, an estimated one hundred thousand tourists travel to Peru every year, just to taste the food, then return to their countries, reflecting the development of the Peruvian food industry. According to Rolando Arellano, of Arellano Marketing, this phenomenon occurs especially for people entering the country across the border from Chile to Tacna and from Ecuador to Tumbes, only attracted by the quality and variety of Peruvian cuisine. Additionally, he said, gastronomic tours also take place and attract high income tourists who come to Peru for a couple of days just to eat in Lima, Arequipa, Cusco and other towns, and then return to their countries. According to Adolfo Perret, chairman of food subcommittee of the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL), the Peruvian culinary industry could generate sales of close to S/. 45 billion this year. "One study noted that in 2009 the Peruvian gastronomic industry exceeded S/. 40 billion; given the extraordinary growth and the gourmet boom in the country, it is possible that the figure is around S/.45 billion this year, he said to Andina.