14:00 | Urubamba (Cusco region), Sep. 18.
Tourism services in Machu Picchu have been operating normally as of Thursday, following the
start of the 72-hour truce with the sectors staging protests in Cusco, said
Bratzo Bartra, Director General of Tourism Development at the
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur).
"They are operating normally as of today," the official told TV Peru.
"During this period, we have to reach an agreement," he added.
"In these 72 hours, we will sit down with authorities and companies, and we hope to implement the contingency plan," Bartra noted in that regard, recalling that the truce was achieved thanks to dialogue promoted by Mincetur, along with the mediation efforts of the Ombudsman's Office.
Bartra emphasized that the key issue to resolve now is access to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, which has been disrupted by protests over the change of the concessionary company in charge of transportation to the site.
Context and measures
As is known, the company Consettur had been in charge of that service, but once the concession period ended, the Urubamba Province Municipality decided to provisionally assign this service to the company San Antonio de Torontoy.
Bartra explained that this provisional arrangement will last approximately 120 days, until a definitive concession is awarded.
"We are coordinating with all institutions to resolve the core issue, which is access to the sanctuary," the Mincetur representative underscored.
"Today, thanks to the truce, everything is operating normally," Bartra reiterated.
The official also recalled that the ministry, through the Tourist Protection Network, provided support to travelers stranded due to this situation.
He mentioned that the first group included 1,400 tourists, followed by another contingent of approximately 900 people.
In this context, contact was established with the relevant airlines to facilitate booking changes and flight rescheduling for their return.
Losses worth millions
Bartra noted that Mincetur has estimated the financial losses resulting from this situation in Machu Picchu Pueblo at S/1 million (US$287,356) per day.
In the Machu Picchu zone of influence, losses reach S/3 million ($862,069), while at the Cusco region level, the figure rises to S/8 million ($2,298,851).
"This affects not only the area but the entire country," he said, noting that it is reflected in trip cancellations to other destinations within Peru.
Regarding sabotage actions, which included rail destruction and damage to railway equipment, Bartra described them as "acts of vandalism that could have led to fatal accidents" if they had not been detected.
He explained that, in addition to excavations under the Machu Picchu railway tracks, the brake hose of a train was destroyed.
"We call for calm," Bartra said.
He mentioned that the Mincetur attorney has already filed a complaint to launch the corresponding investigations.
(END) FGM/MAO/MVB
Published: 9/18/2025