Peru's government has made a U-turn on its plans to directly outsource admission tickets to Machu Picchu to a private company, following a week of protests that blocked access via PeruRail's train service to the country's prime tourist spot, according to AP News.
Machu Picchu in Peru, a UNESCO heritage site and the country's prime tourist spot which saw a set of protests this past week.
Machu Pichu, a 'Deserted' Heritage Site in the Wake of the Protests
Although a resolution has been met after days of contentions, the local businesses surrounding the area Northwest of Cusco city, including hotels and restaurants, have mostly remained scarce with human presence.
The government's decision to alter the spot's ticketing system, which was handled by the state for around 15 years, into a centralized and electronic-based ticketing system only stuck for a total of 11 days.
This outcome unfolded after picketers, comprised of individuals involved within the locality's tourism sector, questioned the would-be contract and demanded changes in the deal by enacting demonstrations that blocked off access to Machu Pichu.
As per The Guardian, the protesters mainly had fears surrounding the effect of the would-be electronic ticketing system on local businesses. In addition, the administration would have been transferred to a ticket sales firm owned by the private company Joinnus.
Joinnus itself is managed by one of the wealthiest economic groups in the country, which only took over the firm just earlier this year.
Peru's Minister of Culture Leslie Urteaga and Cusco's regional president, alongside the Mayor of the Machu Pichu District, eventually signed an agreement last Wednesday, Jan. 31, concerning the transferral to the new platform.
"We have to move forward to reactivate our economy," Urteaga told a local radio station.
Following this resolution, the rail service has been resumed starting at half capacity on Jan. 31 and operating a regular service since Thursday, Feb. 1.
Although no official figures have been released by the government surrounding the losses incurred during the protests, the Association of Cusco Tourism Agencies believe the damage reached around $4.7 million.
