Protests in Peru are blocking access to Machu Picchu, one of South America’s most popular heritage sites, leaving tourists stranded.
The outburst from the locals stems from a new ticketing system halting rail transport to the iconic Incan site.
The protests, which began late last week, have left hundreds of tourists, who flock to Machu Picchu from all over the world, unable to reach the site.
Round-table discussions entered a second day on Monday to resolve the dispute between the authorities and protesters angry at the government for consolidating ticket sales.
Community representatives in Machu Picchu fear that the new electronic ticket sales platform will hurt local businesses by “privatizing” sales and directing profits to one single firm.
The authorities are finding new ways to control visitor numbers as travel rebounds in the wake of the pandemic.
According to the authorities, the new ticketing platform available in January will strengthen the way visitor numbers are managed. From this month entries are capped at 4,500 per day, up from 3,800 last year.
