14:25 | Cusco (Cusco region), Mar. 3.
The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu has received almost 12,000 tourists, including locals as well as domestic and foreign visitors, since
its reopening on February 15 this year, the
head of the Decentralized Unit at the Decentralized Culture Directorate (DDC) in Cusco, Maritza Rosa Candia, said on Friday.
In statements to
Andina new agency, the head of said sector affirmed that the Wonder of World received 11,940 visitors until March 1, when the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was reopened.
Moreover, she noted that the average number of visitors per day is 650, although this figure rises to 1,000 tourists on Sunday.
According to Rosa Candia, the level of confidence and safety provided to tourists —following the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the political and social crisis— led to a gradual increase, which will be positive from now on, when the peak season arrives.
"Of course, it (the number of visitors) is increasing little by little. There is a greater demand for it (for tourists to visit Machu Picchu) because there is calm and
rains are not as intense as those years ago, and that encourages tourists to keep coming," she stressed.
In fact, in the case of local tourists, they have done so by merely presenting their ID cards.
This shows that domestic tourism promotes economic recovery now and that a massive return of foreigners —mostly Americans and Latin Americans, followed by European and Asian tourists, as in the past— is expected.
(END) PHS/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/3/2023