Machu Picchu eliminates prior reservations to optimize ticket sales
The Government of Peru has taken a drastic measure to improve the visitor experience at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Starting in the next ten days, the advance booking system will be eliminated, due to the fact that the digital sales platform has collapsed due to the blocking of tickets that are ultimately not used, preventing other tourists from accessing the architectural jewel.
The Minister of Culture, Alberto Beingolea, reported that the new system will only allow the purchase of nominal tickets, linked directly to each user’s identification. This decision responds to an exhaustive analysis which revealed that, out of nearly 210,000 reservations made, more than 62% were canceled, creating an artificial shortage of tickets.
If you enter now, you won’t find tickets until December. One can reserve several tickets and these remain blocked, preventing the entire existing tourist demand from reaching Machu Picchu.
Alberto Beingolea, Minister of Culture
Impact on the tourism sector
The authorities acknowledged that the current experience for foreign visitors is not adequate, as many arrive with the expectation of obtaining a ticket in person and end up facing setbacks. However, the Ministry of Culture clarified that this new provision will maintain the established capacity limits and will preserve the one thousand tickets that are sold physically in the town of Aguas Calientes.
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Rogers Valencia, highlighted the current challenges of the sector:
- Tourist arrivals are 2.5% below the previous year’s figures.
- The flow of visitors is still 15% below the levels recorded in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
- The goal is to implement a more sustainable visitation model that guarantees the quality of service.
Machu Picchu, discovered for the world by Hiram Bingham in 1911, remains Peru’s most important tourist emblem. The main objective of these reforms is to modernize access to this archaeological site, ensuring that both those interested in Inca history and nature lovers can enjoy this world heritage site in an organized and efficient manner.
