Sacsayhuaman displaces Machu Picchu as the most visited archaeological site in Cusco

With almost 956,000 visitors, the Sacsayhuaman complex was ranked as the most visited archaeological site in the department of Cusco between January and August of this year, displacing the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu from that place, according to data analyzed by the Ministry of Culture (Mincul). by ComexPeru.

Until the eighth month of the year, 502,659 national visitors and 453,130 foreigners arrived in Saqsayhuaman, giving us a total of 955,789. Meanwhile, only 548,137 people arrived at Machu Picchu, of which 180,194 were Peruvians and 367,943 foreigners.

“Until before the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu was the main attraction and tourist destination in the country. However, everything changed due to this situation and the poor decisions made subsequently by the authorities. Currently, the numbers have begun to fall to such a level that Machu Picchu is no longer the main destination and Sacsayhuaman has taken its place,” said ComexPerú.

The numbers of visits to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu have begun to decrease, so that, at the end of 2022, in total only just over 1 million tourists visited this place, while Sacsayhuaman achieved more than 1.8 million, when the figures were opposite before.

For the union, among the actions that have affected the arrival of tourists to Machu Picchu, the decision adopted in August 2022 by the Ministry of Culture to sell 25% of the 4,000 tickets available to visit the sanctuary in person in the district stands out. of Aguas Calientes.

This measure – according to the Cusco Chamber of Tourism – began to generate logistical problems due to the long lines that formed and, in addition, has caused many tourists to miss out on visiting the citadel.

Machu Picchu: Comex warns of ticket mafia

But not only that: the Cusco unions have expressed that a ticket sales mafia has been generated, which is seriously affecting the image of tourism in our country. This situation is causing tourists to be forced to stay one more day in the area in order to visit Machu Picchu.

The union indicated that the problems of in-person sales are seen with greater relevance when, despite the long queues that form and even when many tourists are left without visiting the sanctuary, it is found that in July and August not all of the items were sold. the tickets allowed by the capacity, despite it being high season.

For operators in the region, this is an unsustainable situation that hits thousands of entrepreneurs in the tourism sector. The solution to this problem is to sell all tickets through transparent digital platforms.

“Only in this way will it be possible to combat the current situation and ensure that Machu Picchu regains the place it had until 2019, the year in which it was visited by more than 1.5 million tourists,” said ComexPerú.