Issue with Machu Picchu Tourism following backlash against new ticketing system

LIMA, Peru — The surroundings of Machu Picchu—the top tourist spot in Peru—were notably quiet on Wednesday, with train services canceled due to protests against the government’s decision to outsource ticket sales to a private company. The new ticketing system, implemented 10 days ago, is causing concern for small businesses and tourism workers who fear it could favor larger companies while harming their livelihoods. As a result, arrivals to the area have declined significantly, reminiscent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.“It feels like the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, you hardly see any people,” said Roger Monzón, a staff member at the Inkas Land hotel in the Machu Picchu district, currently accommodating only two tourists from Portugal.Train service to the area was halted last Friday, compelling the few remaining tourists, mostly young travelers, to undertake a 130-mile journey from the Andean city of Cusco to a hydroelectric plant. From there, they must walk for two hours to reach the Machu Picchu district before embarking on a further 2 1/2-hour trek to the stone citadel.The protests, which commenced on January 24, are a response to the government’s decision to entrust ticket sales for entering Machu Picchu to Joinnus, a virtual ticket sales platform owned by one of Peru’s wealthiest economic groups. Previously, ticket sales were managed through an online portal operated by a state entity based in Cuzco.The government argues that using the private platform ensures transparent ticket sales, citing a detected market for the sale of unregistered tickets in 2023, resulting in a $1.8 million loss from unreported tickets.Tourism workers and small tour operators express their lack of trust in the new system, alleging that it will favor big tourism operators at the expense of fair competition and small business owners. They also raise concerns about the privacy of personal data collected by the Joinnus platform, such as phone numbers, emails, and visit dates to the citadel. They fear this information could be transferred to large tourism companies, giving them an unfair advantage over smaller operatorsProtesters are calling for the annulment of the new system and the resignation of Minister of Culture Leslie Urteaga, who sanctioned the ticketing change.Four countries—the United States, Germany, France, and Brazil—have advised their citizens to exercise caution if planning to visit Machu Picchu, a World Heritage Site since 1983, due to potential disruptions to essential services such as water and transportation caused by the protests.Tourism is the primary economic activity in Cusco, supporting more than 200,000 direct jobs in the sector. Prior to the protests, up to 4,500 visitors would explore Machu Picchu daily.There are no official figures on the potential losses during the first week of protests, but some tourism unions estimate the damage at about $4.7 million.“The losses include all sectors directly linked to tourism, such as tourist agencies, hotels, restaurants, tour guides, as well as markets, taxi drivers, and rural communities,” said Elena González, president of the Association of Cusco Tourism Agencies.For more from NBC Latino, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Author: OpenAI