Panoramic view of Machu Picchu, in Peru.
© Marcela Torres
© Marcela Torres
by Marcela Torres
Today is the celebration of 100 years of the
rediscovery of Machu Picchu, a place to which many visitors are attracted
because of its mystery and its imposing buildings. But the truth is that this
World Heritage Site is in grave danger due to excessive tourism.
During a visit this past February, the General
Director of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, warned that the Inca city of Machu Picchu is
a “victim of its own success” since it suffers from a tourism pressure that is
not adequate for its preservation. The international organization, which
manages the World Heritage Sites list, decided not to include the site in the
list of endangered cultural heritage, but recommended restricting the
activities planned for the place’s centennial in order to protect it. The UNESCO’s
recommendations included limiting the number of people accessing the sanctuary
during the festivities and holding most activities in the city of Cusco.
For several years, the UNESCO has promoted that
visits to Machu Picchu be limited. Following the organization’s suggestions,
Peru reduced allowed numbers from 2,500 to 1,800 people per day in the site’s
Management Plan. This measure, however, has been adamantly opposed by many
tourism companies arguing that these restrictions will only harm the sector.
The question is, however, what will the tourism
industry do if Machu Picchu is destroyed? Or, as Bokova expressed during her
visit, “how can we balance the pressure for tourism, the success and
acknowledgement of the site with its protection and authenticity?”
Overtourism in Machu Picchu brings
about several specific problems, such as: 1) crowdedness, which diminishes the
quality of the experience for the visitors; 2) increase of garbage,
particularly in the Inca Trail; 3) an intensive use of a historical site with a
limited carrying capacity. I’ve been lucky enough to visit the place twice and
the last time I was there the guide told us how the mythical sun clock was
broken by a crane used by a production company that was filming a television spot.
Although nobody likes restrictions, a
solution must be found among all stakeholders involved. This is important in order to ensure that Machu Picchu can
be enjoyed by future generations as well.
This entry was originally posted by the author on July 7, 2011.
