14:20 | Cusco (Cusco region), Feb. 21.
Culture Minister Leslie Urteaga on Wednesday affirmed that her sector has been assessing the proposal suggesting that the entry of tourists to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu should be allowed only if accompanied by a tourist guide, in order to ensure the preservation of said world heritage site, wonder of the world, and Peru's most famous tourist attraction.
"Tour guides are key to the preservation of Machu Picchu," the minister pointed out.
Urteaga's remarks came as she expressed appreciation to them on International Tourist Guide Day.
In an interview with Radio Nacional, the Culture sector's head explained that, within the framework of the actions and protocols required for visits to the llaqta of Machu Picchu, the focus was not only on the visitor capacity, but also on the new ticket sales platform, in order to preserve and conserve the legacy of the Incas.
In this regard, she highlighted the meetings and the agreements made during meetings with sectors in the Executive Branch, the regional government, municipalities, the private sector, and even neighbors of the Machu Picchu district.
"We have made decisive and good progress (…) and I think all sectors are interested in improving the service in order to avoid crowds during the visits, for example," the government official said.
Furthermore, she stressed the need to know the exact number of visitors and prevent misinformation regarding both domestic and foreign visitors.
(END) JCB/RMB/MVB
Published: 2/21/2024