The workshop was organized by the UNESCO Chairs of the Università della Svizzera italiana (Switzerland), the University of Genoa (Italy), the University of Lima, and the University of San Martin de Porres.
It was also supported by the UNESCO Office in Lima, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Service for Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP).
In this regard, the Ministry of Culture emphasized that the workshop was a collaborative and interdisciplinary space designed to generate innovative proposals that provide solutions for cultural heritage protection and the promotion of sustainable tourism.
During the workshop, held from August 21 to 28 in Lima, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley, participants applied the ABCDE methodology to design proposals integrating heritage protection, sustainable tourism, and digital media use.
The program included data collection in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu—recognized as a Mixed World Heritage Site in 1983—meetings with local communities and knowledge-sharing spaces involving regional experts.
"Heritage, the pride of all Peruvians, is also a fragile and non-renewable resource. Our commitment is to preserve it so it can be admired by future generations," Deputy Cultural Heritage and Cultural Industries Minister Moira Novoa underscored.
In turn, Lorenzo Cantoni, of the UNESCO Chair in Digital Technologies for the Development of Sustainable Tourism, highlighted that this experience "shows how ICT can transform academic research into management and communication tools for World Heritage sites."
At the end of the workshop, groups presented proposals to the Ministry of Culture, SERNANP, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR).
Among the initiatives were the redesign of Machu Picchu's official website with interactive resources, the installation of informational panels in trains and airports, the implementation of augmented reality experiences, and the creation of a Machu Picchu Ambassadors program to train responsible visitors before purchasing tickets.
These proposals aim to ensure that the Machu Picchu experience is not only memorable for visitors but also contributes to heritage conservation and the well-being of local communities.
UNESCO's National Culture Officer in Peru, Jose Salazar, emphasized that "this experience highlights the value of international and multidisciplinary cooperation, and demonstrates how technology and traditional knowledge can converge in favor of sustainability in tourism and heritage protection."
The Machu Picchu 2025 Field Workshop produces a set of lessons and proposals that can be replicated at other World Heritage sites, consolidating a management model that combines innovation, intercultural dialogue, and institutional commitment.
(END) NDP/MAO/JMP/MVB