Why did Machu Picchu go on ‘indefinite strike’?

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The sale of tickets to Machu Picchu by a private company generated a series of protests that are affecting tourism and the local economy. Machu Picchu, in Peru AFP Departure of tourists, protests, closing of companies and an “indefinite strike”. This is the current scenario in Machu Picchu, the iconic archaeological site in Peru considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The troubled situation occurs after a private company, Joinnus, took over the sale of tickets at the venue. Protesters consider that the new development represents a “systematic privatization” of the Inca city and, for the fourth consecutive day since Thursday (25/01), tour operators and residents kept their businesses closed and blocked access to the region in protest. The activities of the trains that take people to the archaeological park were also suspended as a precaution, causing hundreds of tourists to leave in a hurry. Machu Picchu is one of the jewels of Peruvian tourism that attracted around 4.5 million visitors to the country before the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. What are the protesters asking for? Protesters demand the cancellation of the contract with Joinnus. After fruitless negotiations between the ministers of Culture and Foreign Trade and Tourism, the mayor of Machu Picchu and governor Werner Salcedo declared this Sunday (28/1) the “radicalization” of the strike. A large part of the protests are directed against the Peruvian Minister of Culture, Leslie Urteaga, whom they blame for allowing ticket sales through Joinnus. “Minister of Culture, don’t rent Machu Picchu, rent your house”, said one of the banners carried by the protesters. They also question “the charging of a commission of 3.9% per ticket sold” by the company, according to a statement from the Machu Picchu popular collective. Urteaga denied that ticket sales were being privatized, argued that “Machu Picchu belongs to all Peruvians” and proposed a dialogue table to find a solution. The company Joinnus, on the other hand, said that it made itself “available” to the Ministry of Culture to initiate a new selection process if necessary and that it “voluntarily renounced receiving the variable commission for admission for a period of six months.” But These statements do not seem to have calmed the protesters, who are now awaiting the outcome of negotiations scheduled for this Tuesday, January 30. Why did Machu Picchu go on ‘indefinite strike’? Getty Images Blow to tourism Tourism is being the major victim of the indefinite shutdown. Hundreds of visitors were unable to access the tourist attraction or return to their accommodation, which led authorities to intervene to relocate them. Several media outlets published images of tourists completing the trip to Machu Picchu on foot and in the rain Carlos González, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Ollantaytambo, another important access point to the ruins, estimated the number of tourists who needed to be evacuated at up to 1,800. The Public Defender’s Office of Peru “rejected the blocking of roads by protesters” and insisted that “all demands must be channeled into dialogue.” The right to protest “does not give protesters the power to impede free movement or affect the rights of other people”, added the defender’s office. The closures also hurt the local economy. Roland Llave, dean of the Cuzco Faculty of Tourism, told Peruvian radio RPP that “the impact is millions of soles” for families in the region. They largely depend on the flow of travelers who need guides, hotels and accommodation. The problems of Machu Picchu Machu Picchu, declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage Site in 1983, has faced several challenges in recent times. At the end of December, the Ministries of Culture, Foreign Trade and Tourism and the Environment announced an increase in the number of visitors to up to 5,600 people on specific days and 4,500 on common dates. For decades, Machu Picchu suffered conservation and sustainability problems due to the high number of visitors. In September, the Ministry of Culture itself announced the end of visits to three sectors of the Inca city due to the wear and tear of its lithic elements. Previously, in early 2023, the attraction was closed for about a month due to blockades caused by anti-government protests. Machu Picchu AFP

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