The strike continues in Machu Picchu with foreign tourists stranded
The ongoing strike in the Peruvian district of Machu Picchu, where the famous archaeological park is located, is being led by social organizations and unions who are protesting against the alleged outsourcing of ticket sales to the monument. As a result of the strike, a group of foreign tourists have reported being stranded in the area.
Activities in Machu Picchu have come to a halt since Thursday, as various groups connected to local tourism have intensified their protest against the Ministry of Culture for hiring a virtual platform for the sale of digital tickets to the Inca sanctuary.
As a precautionary measure, the train services to the archaeological park have also been suspended, further complicating the situation for visitors to Machu Picchu.
Roland Llave, the dean of the College of Tourism Graduates of Cuzco, stated in an interview with RPP radio station that “the economic impact on the families of the Cuzco region and Peru is in the millions, as tours cannot be conducted leading to a disruption in the circular economy involving restaurants, accommodations, and other tourism-related businesses.”
Llave added that “the losses we are going to incur will be significant, especially for the local families who depend on tourism.” In a separate incident, a Colombian tourist named Cristina Ávila reached out to RPP, requesting that her country’s embassy be present at the site to assist in her evacuation.
Regarding the situation, Ávila stated that they were informed about the cancellation of train operations to return to the neighboring city of Ollantaytambo. She mentioned how the strike has blocked the railways, preventing them from going back to their home country.
Ávila, who is traveling with her husband, stated that there is “a large group of Colombians who are waiting to be able to move and return to our country.”
Meanwhile, Carlos González, the president of the Ollantaytambo Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, announced on TV Perú that the evacuation of approximately 1,800 stranded tourists in Machu Picchu would take place within the next few hours.
González had requested a dialogue table between the regional government of Cusco and the municipality of Machu Picchu to address the reasons behind the protest and the disruption in the country’s primary tourist destination. Previously, the capacity of Machu Picchu had been expanded to accommodate up to 4,500 visitors as of December last year.