After almost a month closed due to the protests that afflict Peru in the midst of its political-social crisis, Machu Picchu reopened its doors to tourism this Wednesday.
Machu Picchu, the main tourist attraction in Peru, reopened its doors to tourism this Wednesday. This, after remaining closed since January 21 due to the anti-government protests that the country is experiencing. Since December, the demonstrations add up to 70 deaths.
“The reopening of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary has been arranged, starting on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, under the same conditions, schedules and circuits established,” reported the Andean Ministry of Culture via Twitter.
The portfolio added that this decision was possible after having assumed a “joint commitment” with the municipal authorities, leaders of social organizations, transportation services, directors of the Chamber of Commerce and the different institutions that make up the Management Unit. of Machu Picchu.
He pointed out, in this sense, that the reopening of the world wonder “responds to the need to bet on dialogue and peace, within the framework of the articulated work between the authorities and the population, which require the resumption of cultural activity and the reactivation economy of Cusco”.
Social and political crisis in Peru
The closure of the Inca citadel was announced on January 21, after train services to the town of Machu Picchu were suspended due to damage to the railway. Added to this was the need to preserve the safety of the sanctuary and its visitors.
The Andean country has been plunged since last December into a serious political and social crisis that led to protest actions in various parts of the country, especially in southern regions, such as Cusco. The reason? Demand the resignation of the president, Dina Boluarte, and elections brought forward to 2023, among other demands.
The protests broke out after the failed self-coup by former president Pedro Castillo (2021-2022). To date, there are 70 deaths. Of these, 48 were protesters who died in direct confrontations with law enforcement. One was a policeman and twenty more would have died from events related to the road blockade, according to various EFE sources.
Millions in losses due to the closure of Machu Picchu
The Cusco district that houses Machu Picchu lives mainly from tourism and strongly felt the suspension of this type of activities during the covid-19 pandemic. However, it began to recover from November 2020, when the sanctuary resumed operations with a reduced number of tourists and at different times to comply with sanitary protocols.
In the last two months, due to the political and social instability in the country, it is estimated that the district has lost about 2.5 million soles per day (about $650,000). Meanwhile, regional losses amount to 7 million (1.8 million dollars), according to data from the local Chamber of Commerce, collected in local media.
Machu Picchu, famous worldwide since the exploratory trip of the American Hiram Bingham in 1911, has been recognized since 1983 as a cultural heritage of humanity by Unesco. Since 2007 it is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.