Peru Addresses Machu Picchu Overcrowding with Permit System

(Source: Travel Weekly China)

The Peruvian government has introduced a permit system for Machu Picchu in an attempt to better control footfall at the Unesco World Heritage site.

Starting on 1 July, tourists will need a timed entry permit to access the site, which will have two daily time slots, removing the existing ticketing method which has no time restrictions.

In an announcement made by Peru's Ministry of Culture, tourists wanting to visit the wonder must visit with a licensed official or guide, with advance reservations obligatory and group numbers for each guide capped at 16 people.

The timed tickets will divide into morning and afternoon, with the morning slot taking place between 6am and midday, and the afternoon slot from midday until 5:30pm. Visitors wanting to stay on-site all day will have to purchase two tickets.

The move will help Machu Picchu ensure a "sustainable flow" according to the Ministry.

Increased footfall has been a concern for the landmark in recent times, with a 2012 conservation report stating that the imposed 2,500 visitor daily limit has been "exceeded on numerous occasions", something backed up by official figures from the Ministry. The famous ruins were drawing an estimated 3,300 visitors a day – well over the set limit. The new permit system will address this.

Tourism is an increasingly important part of Peru's economy, with many foreign visitors attracted to the country's rich archaeological remains and immense biodiversity.

Peru's government has previously tried to draw traffic away from the site, with one idea to create a historical rival that of Machu Picchu, in the form of the Chachapoya ruins of the northern "cloud people", which is largely unexplored due to inaccessibility and lack of general awareness.