The collapse in access to Machu Picchuonce again exhibited structural failures in tourism management: business unions, operators and authorities of the Cusco agree that the absence of a comprehensive virtual system and the lack of personnel put the peak seasonwhich between June and September could leave thousands of visitors without tickets to the main tourist destination in the country. Peru.
During the last few days, hundreds of tourists—both Peruvian and foreign—faced nights of waiting, long lines and uncertainty to purchase one of the 1,000 in-person tickets enabled daily. The representative of the Regional Management of Foreign Trade and Tourism warned that “we are entering a high season and this is going to be noticeable,” warning that the flow of travelers through the jubilee celebrations will increase disorder in sales and access systems.
The Decentralized Directorate of Culture implemented advance sales with 3 days difference to avoid crowds, but even this measure did not solve the problem: lines persist, tour operators report cancellations, and reservations do not guarantee access to the sanctuary.
From the Cusco Chamber of Tourism It was warned that the current management is causing a sustained drop in travel intentions and an urgent response was demanded since the operational crisis has a direct impact on the country’s international image.
“Our proposal is the virtual sale, right? That there is more order, that the rights of the tourist are not violated, right? And that the country be presented as what it is and not everything the opposite that is being shown,” declared a representative of the tourism union to Successful.
For the tourist unions, the origin of the problem is political: they denounce that the deactivation of completely virtual saledecided under pressure from local groups, only aggravated the disorder.
Carlos Gonzalezpresident of the Cusco Chamber of Tourismindicated that “enough of half measures and enough of continuing to give in to pressure from certain social minority groups, which are causing a constant decrease in the intention of both nationals and foreigners to travel to Machu Picchu. The mistreatment cannot continue.”
González remarked: “In the modern contemporary world, all reservations are made by cell phone, by a tablet, by a laptop. People cannot be with the constant anxiety of knowing or not knowing if they will be able to enjoy Machu Picchu.”
The problems transcend ticketing and affect infrastructure. The poor condition of roads and railways, congestion on access routes and limited personnel at entry control aggravate the chaos, especially between June and September. A representative of the sector lamented: “The image we show to tourists is truly outrageous, in addition to the poor state of our roads and tracks and the connection between the different tourist attractions (…) this issue of lines is really.”
The unions agree that “Machu Picchu should be declared an emergency for a long time” due to the “disorderly growth and lack of sustainable solutions.” Business spokespersons point out that the in-person model exposes tourists to possible “kidnapping” through lines, a situation that discourages travel and aggravates the drop in demand.
The consequence is twofold: economic losses for the sector and deterioration of global reputation. Another union representative warned Exitosa: “It is not right that the rights of the visitor are violated in this way, that it is demonstrated or shown that our country is not capable of receiving them.”
From the Regional Management of Foreign Trade and Tourism acknowledged to Exitosa the operational weaknesses and recalled that the administration of Machu Picchu depends on the Ministry of Culture. Faced with the imminence of peak seasonthe official recommended planning the purchase of tickets in advance and specified that “there are some problems that have been visualized,” referring to “limited personnel in controlling entry to the llaqta.”
Among the technical proposals is making the successive sale of tickets more flexible or enabling a digital platform to allocate tickets. 1,000 in-person tickets and allow its withdrawal in the town of Machu Picchu. Thus they would seek to ensure that tourists remain at least one day in the place, boosting the local economy.
The management representative stated: “In such a way that We would guarantee in any case that our tourists are one day, stay and generate economyNo? This technical proposal is being analyzed.”
