Machu Picchu increases daily capacity to 5,600 visitors

Machu Picchu, one of the most important tourist spots in Peru and the sixth wonder of the world, will increase its capacity, which will go from 4,044 to between 4,500 and 5,600 visitors per daynot including those who access via the Inca Trail.

The decision was approved unanimously and had the approval of the main authorities, such as Juan Carlos Mathews, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism; Albina Ruíz, head of Environment (Minam); Leslie Urteaga, from the Culture portfolio (Mincul); and Werner Salcedo, regional governor of Cusco, during the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Management Unit of the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (UGM), held on November 30.

Warnings

The Inca city was declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1983; However, in 2017 the same entity warned that it was at serious risk due to the indiscriminate influx of tourists.

For this reason, Peru committed to implementing preservation measures to prevent it from being declared heritage in danger. However, the current announcement would be in breach of these agreements.

For Luis Jaime Castillo, former Minister of Culture, this recent expansion is due to pressure from regional authorities, residents of Machu Picchu and businessmen from Hot Waterswho seek to increase their income.

Furthermore, the origin of the new report presented as justification is unknown.

“Previously, studies have been done that suggested that capacity could be increased depending on a set of works to protect the site, but What has been approved has been done without raising the budget for conservation,” he said in dialogue with La República.

Along these lines, he highlighted that the authority in charge of ensuring the interests of the country’s heritage, such as the Inca citadel, is the Ministry of Culture; However, the position of the current minister is enigmatic, she noted.

John Santos, president of the Cusco Chamber of Commerceagrees that new strategies must be implemented, including the protection of the soil, the care of stone joints and that entry and exit are not the same.

“The increase in capacity and care must go hand in hand. If it is only to increase and there is no budget for preservation, we would be going to destroy. Which We want this heritage to last over time.”, he indicated to this medium.

Keys

Tickets. Starting in December, tickets to the citadel can be reserved through the Mincul website.

Tourism. Between January and September 2023, there were 413,049 foreign visitors, 53% less than in 2019.

The word

Luis Castillo Butters, former minister and former vice minister of Culture

“Peru has international commitments that it must maintain to preserve the place. You cannot first raise the number of tourists and then offer changes to improve preservation.”