(Lima) Peru announced Monday that it was considering a temporary closure of the Machu Picchu site, after four days of strike by residents against what they denounce as the “privatization” of the sale of entry tickets to the most popular Inca site. visited in the world.
Nearly 700 tourists were evacuated on Saturday from the most visited Inca site in the world, due to this social movement.
According to the Minister of Culture, Leslie Urteaga, the leaders of the mobilization proposed that the site be closed for security reasons, given the lack of dialogue between the parties.
“We will evaluate the collective’s requests, one of which is to close the llapta [citadelle]. It would be painful for everyone, but we will evaluate it,” Mr Urteaga told the public channel.
Opponents launched an “indefinite” strike movement on Thursday to denounce a decision by the Ministry of Culture to use a private intermediary to manage online ticket sales.
PHOTO CAROLINA PAUCAR, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Members of the police stand guard at the entrance to Machu Picchu.
A local collective says the company, Joinnus, could benefit from up to $3.2 million a year in commissions thanks to the new system.
Many businesses have lowered their curtains since Thursday and the railway operator Ferrocarril Transandino suspended its service to the site on Friday due to the demonstrations.
The Ministry of Culture affirms that the new sales system should make it possible to control the flow of tourists and preserve the citadel, listed as a World Heritage Site since 1983.
The archaeological complex, located 130 kilometers from the city of Cusco and at an altitude of 2438 meters, was built in the 15the century on the orders of the Inca emperor Pachacutec (1438-1470) and discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham.