Peru is to raise the daily visitor limit for Machu Picchu, its most popular tourist destination, from next month.
Currently, visitor numbers are capped at 4,060 a day due to concerns over erosion to the stone structures as well as littering. However,Peru’s cultural and environmental ministries issued a statement on 2 December saying they’d agreed to raise the daily cap to 4,500 from 1 January 2024.
Describing a new ‘dynamic’ approach to footfall, the statement added that on specific dates, the cap could be raised as high as 5,600. It also promised a new plan to improve and optimise the flow of tourists.
A daily cap was first introduced at Macchu Pichu in 2011, with the neighbouring mountain Huayna Picchu limited to just 400 visitors per day.
In the statement, the Government said: “The proper conservation of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a priority for Peru, providing, in turn, the opportunity to boost sustainable and responsible tourism that generates sustained economic development and better management in the provision of cultural and tourist services.”
Peru has faced a series of political protests throughout 2023, which have heavily impacted the nation’s tourism industry.
Intrepid’s General Manager in Peru Fernando Rodriguez said: “Tourism to Peru has been through a difficult time and has made a slow recovery this year, so I welcome any efforts by the authorities to attract more visitors to the country.
“At the same time, overtourism has long been an issue at Machu Picchu and on the Inca Trail. As an industry, it’s vital that we diversify the experiences we offer. That’s why at Intrepid we have been working with local communities to develop new tourism infrastructure.
“For many years our travellers have been taking the Quarry Trail, an alternative trek to Machu Picchu. More recently we have launched the Great Inca Road, a little-visited trekking route from Huaraz. Both of these are just as beautiful and don’t get a fraction of the crowds on the Inca Trail.”
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Currently, visitor numbers are capped at 4,060 a day due to concerns over erosion to the stone structures as well as littering. However,Peru’s cultural and environmental ministries issued a statement on 2 December saying they’d agreed to raise the daily cap to 4,500 from 1 January 2024.
Describing a new ‘dynamic’ approach to footfall, the statement added that on specific dates, the cap could be raised as high as 5,600. It also promised a new plan to improve and optimise the flow of tourists.
A daily cap was first introduced at Macchu Pichu in 2011, with the neighbouring mountain Huayna Picchu limited to just 400 visitors per day.
In the statement, the Government said: “The proper conservation of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a priority for Peru, providing, in turn, the opportunity to boost sustainable and responsible tourism that generates sustained economic development and better management in the provision of cultural and tourist services.”
Peru has faced a series of political protests throughout 2023, which have heavily impacted the nation’s tourism industry.
Intrepid’s General Manager in Peru Fernando Rodriguez said: “Tourism to Peru has been through a difficult time and has made a slow recovery this year, so I welcome any efforts by the authorities to attract more visitors to the country.
“At the same time, overtourism has long been an issue at Machu Picchu and on the Inca Trail. As an industry, it’s vital that we diversify the experiences we offer. That’s why at Intrepid we have been working with local communities to develop new tourism infrastructure.
“For many years our travellers have been taking the Quarry Trail, an alternative trek to Machu Picchu. More recently we have launched the Great Inca Road, a little-visited trekking route from Huaraz. Both of these are just as beautiful and don’t get a fraction of the crowds on the Inca Trail.”
The post Peru to raise daily visitor cap at Machu Picchu appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
