Overtourism : The case of Machu Picchu
The iconic Incan citadel of Machu Picchu has been added to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger due to concerns over the impacts of excessive tourism, the U.N. cultural agency announced. Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a 2,430-meter (7,970 ft) mountain ridge.
Machu Picchu, which was named a World Heritage Site in 1983, has experienced a massive boom in visitors in recent decades, going from 400,000 in 2000 to over 1.5 million in 2019. The huge influx of tourists has raised alarms over irreversible damage to the 15th century site. UNESCO inspectors noted issues like lack of visitor management, improper infrastructure around the site, and increased displacing of local communities. Of particular concern is the famous Inca trail leading to Machu Picchu, where overcrowding has caused trash buildup and erosion.
Peru’s government reacted by implementing new ticketing systems and visitor time limits in recent years to control crowds. But UNESCO determined these measures are not sufficient to protect Machu Picchu, prompting the endangered distinction. Being added to the endangered list allows Machu Picchu to receive expert guidance and potential funding from UNESCO to establish conservation plans. If issues persist, Machu Picchu risks losing its World Heritage status completely. The move comes amid growing global concern over the impacts of overtourism, especially at fragile historic and natural sites. Other places like Venice, Italy and Maya Bay in Thailand have also instituted visitor limits in recent years to combat excessive damage.
Machu Picchu’s placement on the endangered list serves as a wake-up call to the Peruvian government and the global tourism industry about the consequences of unchecked overtourism. It demonstrates that even the most iconic and financially lucrative World Heritage sites are not immune to environmental and cultural degradation when visitor numbers spiral out of control.
As overtourism threatens destinations across the globe, Machu Picchu stands as a cautionary tale of the need for proactive, collaborative management. The path forward will require coordination between multiple stakeholders to protect treasured sites through regulations, education, promotion of alternative sites, and sustainable tourism practices. Though the challenges are immense, the designation of Machu Picchu as endangered will hopefully galvanize stronger action to preserve the majestic Incan citadel for future generations.
This is a lesson for other destinations to embrace.
Emmanuel Omogunwa
Author
