Peru decided to extend Machu Picchu’s visitor capacity

The decision came as tickets sold out until the middle of August and visitor capacity needed to be extended, Peru's Ministry of Culture announced.

According to the move, the maximum number of visitors per day allow to enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu was extended to 5.044 per day, up from 4,044 persons, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Roberto Sánchez Palomino recently stated.

The capacity was increased by a thousand people, after on July 7 the Ministry of Culture raised admission capacity with another thousand, from 3.044 to 4.044 people per day.

At the time, the ministry commented:

"This decision took into consideration the conservation of the property to avoid irreparable damage that compromises its outstanding universal value, following the recommendations that UNESCO issues to the Peruvian State."

The ministry has also asked tourists to plan their trip to the Inca city in advance, in order to avoid chaos, so that the country could be able to cope with the increasing touristic demand while protecting its iconic sites.

Machu Picchu is described by the UN as "probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height."

 

Source: edition.cnn.com