LIMA, Feb 1 (NNN-ANDINA) — Prime Minister Alberto Otarola welcomed the lifting of the strike in Machu Picchu and highlighted the Government’s commitment to recover investments and restore tourism in said area of Peru.
After a meeting with leaders of productive and business guilds, Otarola spoke about the agreement that was unanimously adopted by demonstrators this Wednesday morning.
As is known, the lifting of the strike was one of the conditions requested by a ministerial delegation for setting up a work and dialogue roundtable that would allow the controversy to end.
Said group was made up of Ministers Leslie Urteaga (Culture), Albina Ruiz (Environment), and Juan Carlos Mathews (Foreign Trade and Tourism). “I welcome the fact that the strike has been lifted in Cusco, this (was possible) thanks to the handling and initiative of our ministers, as well as to the participation of authorities, the regional governor, and mayors,” Otarola said.
“It is good news for tourism; it is good news for Peru, and we are committed to implementing a policy for recovering investments and also for visits to our Machu Picchu sanctuary in historic standards,” he added.
On the other hand, the Cabinet chief expressed that the dialogue rounds involving the Government and guilds will continue on a bi-monthly basis to listen to their problems and explain to them the government policies aimed at moving the country forward.
Representatives of the Peruvian Engineers Association, the National Construction and Infrastructure Society, the National Confederation of Private Business Institutions, the Association of Agricultural Producers Guilds, the National Platform of MSME Guilds, among other associations, participated in this event.
The protests blocked access to Machu Picchu, one of South America’s most popular heritage sites, with local anger over a new ticketing system halting rail transport to the iconic Incan site and leaving some tourists stranded.
Train services to the ancient ruins high up in the Andes have been suspended since Saturday due to safety concerns over demonstrators blocking the railway line. Travel links were still not reopened on Monday, tour operators said.
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.
The latest dispute has delivered a fresh blow to Peru’s tourism industry which was hit hard last year by widespread civil unrest, especially in the southern Andean region which is a key zone for the country’s huge copper industry.
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.
Agencies responsible for the care and preservation of the site have warned about overcrowding and tickets being oversold, forcing authorities to find new ways to control visitor numbers as travel rebounds in the wake of the pandemic.
The government argues the new ticketing platform available from January will strengthen the way visitor numbers are managed. — NNN-ANDINA
