SUBJECT CODE:-RET-303

SUBMITTED TO:-
PROF. AJIT KUMAR

SUBMITTED BY:-
UID:-
17BRE1010 17BRE1029
17BRE1036 17BRE1072
 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 to hold most activities in the city of Cusco.
 For several years, the UNESCO has promoted that
visited 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?”
 The excess of tourists 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.
 Fortunately, there are representatives of some
tourism companies who understand that heritage
must be cared for, because it is of no use to over
exploit it and have it last only a few years, and that a
solution must be found among all stakeholders
involved. Although nobody likes restrictions, it is
important for the tourism industry to take on its role
in promoting a sustainable development of the
activity, so that Machu Picchu can be enjoyed by
future generations as well.