Demonstrators in Peru are obstructing the entrance to Machu Picchu, resulting in some visitors being stuck due to community frustration with a recent ticketing system that has suspended train transportation to this renowned cultural destination in South America.
Train trips to the historic sites located in the Andes Mountains have been halted since Saturday due to worries about the safety of the railroad being blocked by protestors. Despite it being Monday, two travel agencies informed Reuters that transportation services have not yet resumed.
Last week’s demonstrations have prevented numerous tourists from all around the globe from reaching Machu Picchu, as they typically do.
The most recent conflict has dealt a new setback to Peru’s tourism sector, which was greatly affected last year by widespread social upheaval, particularly in the southern Andean region that is crucial for the country’s significant copper industry.
The roundtable discussions continued 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.
Leslie Urteaga, the Minister of Culture for Peru, made a trip to the region on Sunday. However, a resolution to the ongoing “indefinite strike” organized by travel unions, tour operators, and local residents has not yet been declared.
Residents of Machu Picchu’s community are concerned that the implementation of a new electronic ticket sales platform may negatively impact local businesses by monopolizing sales and funneling profits to only one company.
Organizations in charge of maintaining and protecting the location have issued a cautionary statement regarding the issue of excessive crowds and overbooking of tickets, leading officials to search for alternative methods to manage the influx of tourists as travel resumes after the COVID-19 crisis.
The government maintains that the new ticketing system, which will be launched in January, will improve the management of visitor numbers. Starting this month, the daily entry limit has been increased to 4,500, compared to 3,800 last year.
In September, the country of Peru made the decision to temporarily shut down three sections of Machu Picchu. This site, which was erected in the 15th century as a spiritual refuge for the Incas, holds the distinction of being a Unesco world heritage site. The closure was prompted by the damage caused by the large influx of tourists.
Source: theguardian.com
