Demonstrators in Peru are obstructing the entrance to Machu Picchu, causing inconvenience for certain visitors due to community frustration regarding a recent ticketing system that has ceased train transportation to this frequently visited cultural landmark in South America.
Train transportation to the historic ruins located in the Andes mountains has been halted since Saturday due to concerns about safety. This is a result of demonstrators obstructing the railway tracks. As of Monday, according to two tour companies, travel options have not yet resumed.
Last week’s protests have caused difficulties for many tourists traveling to Machu Picchu, a popular destination for visitors from around the globe.
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The most recent conflict has dealt a new setback to Peru’s tourism sector, which was greatly affected last year by widespread social unrest, particularly in the southern Andean area that plays a crucial role in the country’s large copper industry.
The second day of roundtable discussions began on Monday in an effort to resolve the conflict between the authorities and protesters who are upset with the government’s decision to centralize ticket sales.
On Sunday, Leslie Urteaga, Peru’s culture minister, made a trip to the area. However, no resolution has been announced for the ongoing “indefinite strike” organized by travel unions, tour operators, and locals.
Local business owners in Machu Picchu are concerned that the new electronic system for selling tickets will harm their businesses by giving exclusive rights to one company and funneling profits towards them.
The organizations in charge of maintaining and protecting the location have cautioned about excessive crowds and tickets being sold beyond capacity. This has led authorities to seek new methods of managing the number of visitors as travel increases again following the pandemic.
The government states that the updated ticketing system, which will be in effect starting January, will enhance the management of visitor numbers. As of this month, the maximum number of entries per day has been increased to 4,500, compared to 3,800 last year.
In September, Peru made the decision to temporarily shut down three sections of Machu Picchu, a sacred site constructed by the Incas in the 15th century and recognized as a Unesco world heritage site. This was due to excessive wear and tear caused by the large number of tourists visiting the site.
Source: theguardian.com
