Aguascalientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu in Peru’s Cusco region, Peru’s busiest tourist destination, after protesters blocked train and bus routes to the site and closed local shops and restaurants. Hundreds of tourists were stranded near Machu Picchu last weekend. . Some visitors posted videos on social media pleading for help. Police evacuated about 700 tourists on Saturday. Many people left without seeing the scene.
Protesters were on the streets Thursday demanding the government cancel a contract that allows companies to sell tickets to Machu Picchu for the first time. Tickets were previously sold through Cusco’s Department of Culture, which is run by the regional government.
Protesters agreed on Tuesday to a 24-hour “ceasefire” to participate in talks with government officials. Although Machu Picchu is officially open, trains to Aguascalientes and buses transporting tourists to the citadel remain suspended. The U.S. Embassy advised travelers attempting to reach the area by other means to ensure they have sufficient food and necessary medicines.
Machu Picchu, considered a retreat for Inca royalty in the 15th century, saw around 2.2 million visitors last year, below the pre-pandemic level of 4.6 million. Peru is trying to encourage tourists to visit other ancient sites to avoid overcrowding, but UNESCO warns they could damage some of its structures.
Who is protesting and why are they angry?
Protesters include tour operators, guides, activists and residents of the Cusco area. They are against a private company profiting from ticket sales to Machu Picchu, which they claim: Joinus, The event marketing platform was appointed sales manager last year through a fraudulent deal with Culture Minister Leslie Urteaga, which she denies.
Aguas Calientes Mayor Elvis La Torre said the government had not consulted local authorities or residents about the new online system.
Distrust of President Dina Bolarte’s government runs deep in Cusco, a heavily indigenous region with numerous pre-Columbian ruins. Bolarte took office in late 2022 after his predecessor was ousted and arrested after attempting to dissolve Peru’s parliament, sparking widespread protests across the country and killing 49 civilians, mostly in indigenous areas. They responded with deadly repression.
What is the government trying to do?
The government says the new ticketing system aims to increase sales transparency. A “mafia” linked to the Cusco regional government diverts some of the tickets and sells them on the black market, depriving the state treasury of revenue and making it difficult to measure the true number of visitors to the site. claims.
The government is also trying to introduce a “dynamic” system that would change the daily visitor limit throughout the year.
According to the parliament’s tourism committee, tourist bus companies to Machu Picchu regularly report a higher number of tourists per day than official ticket sales. The National Audit Office has found that between 70,000 and 80,000 visitors to Machu Picchu were not counted by the Department of Regional Culture in 2021-2022, equivalent to an annual loss of approximately $2 million. do.
What is the current status of negotiations?
The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the Minister of Culture and the termination of the contract with Joinus. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Culture announced that, in cooperation with the Cusco regional government, the new ticketing system would be migrated to a central government-controlled platform.
Mr Urteaga said the transition to the new state-run system would take a “careful period”. “She can’t go back to the old regime,” she said. X, formerly Twitter. We must have a secure, transparent and objective platform. ”
Joinus said he agrees to terminate the contract early.
Mayor La Torre proposed updating the local government’s online ticket sales platform to ensure transparency. “We will agree to modernize the sales system of the Ministry of Culture,” he said in the document. videos posted onlineBut only if the process is “transparent” and “communicated to stakeholders.”
It is unclear whether demonstrators will resume protests after the ceasefire ended late Tuesday night.
Hasn’t this happened before?
Social conflicts are common in Peru, and it is not uncommon for local residents to block roads to attract media attention and pressure authorities to negotiate.
Over the past decade, protesters have sought to secure rail access to Machu Picchu as part of efforts to secure higher pay for teachers and health workers, lower rail fares, or support for farmers during severe fertilizer shortages. I’ve blocked it several times.
Between late 2022 and early last year, political instability following Bolarte’s inauguration halted tourism in many areas of southern Peru for several weeks, including Machu Picchu.
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