Editing Machu Picchu (section)

====Tourist activity====
Machu Picchu is both a cultural and natural [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. Since Hiram Bingham's expedition, growing numbers of tourists have visited the site each year, with numbers exceeding 1.5 million in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://datosturismo.mincetur.gob.pe/appdatosTurismo/frmReporte.aspx?id=224 |title=Cusco: Llegada de visitantes al Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu |publisher=[[MINCETUR]] |date=December 2019 |access-date=20 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820234200/https://datosturismo.mincetur.gob.pe/appdatosTurismo/frmReporte.aspx?id=224 |archive-date=20 August 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> As Peru's most visited tourist attraction, and a major revenue generator, it is continually exposed to economic and commercial forces. In the late 1990s, the Peruvian government granted concessions to allow the construction of a [[Cable car (railway)|cable car]] and a luxury hotel, including a tourist complex with boutiques and restaurants and a bridge to the site.<ref name="BBC1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6292327.stm|title=Bridge stirs the waters in Machu Picchu|date=1 February 2007|access-date=7 June 2016 |work=BBC News Online}}</ref> These plans faced widespread protests, with critics arguing that the government had failed to conduct a proper environmental impact survey, as requested by the [[National Institute of Natural Resources]], which warned of potential harm to the ecosystem.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Medrano |first=Adolfo |date=1998 |title=Peru: Machu Picchu's cable car saga |journal=UNESCO Sources |issue=106 |pages=12–13 |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000114228.locale=en |language=English}}</ref> In 2018, plans were restarted to again construct a cable car to encourage Peruvians to visit Machu Picchu and boost domestic tourism.<ref>{{cite news | last=Sachs | first=Andrea | title=Peru devises new rules to tackle the mounting crowds on Machu Picchu | newspaper=Washington Post | date=2018-02-02 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/peru-devises-new-rules-to-tackle-the-mounting-crowds-on-machu-picchu/2018/02/02/7ac380d6-061b-11e8-8777-2a059f168dd2_story.html | access-date=2024-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Peru: Cable car system might increase tourist arrivals in Machu Picchu | website=Andina | date=2018-09-10 | url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-peru-cable-car-system-might-increase-tourist-arrivals-in-machu-picchu-724703.aspx | language=es | access-date=2024-08-21}}</ref> A [[no-fly zone]] exists above the area.<ref name="ban">{{cite news|last=Collyns |first=Dan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5326042.stm |title=Peru bans flights over Inca ruins |work=[[BBC News]] |date=8 September 2006 |access-date=24 August 2010}}</ref> [[UNESCO]] considered including Machu Picchu on its [[List of World Heritage in Danger]] in 2017, but ultimately decided against it.<ref>{{cite news | title = Machu Picchu airport: UNESCO demands answers from Peru government | url = https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/aug/09/machu-picchu-airport-unesco-demands-answers-from-peru-government | work = [[The Guardian]] | date = 9 August 2019 | access-date = 2024-08-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = UNESCO not to include Peru's Machu Picchu in World Heritage in Danger list | url = https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-unesco-not-to-include-perus-machu-picchu-in-world-heritage-in-danger-list-673883.aspx | website = [[Andina (news agency)|Andina]] | date = 30 June 2021 | access-date = 2024-08-12 }}</ref>

[[File:Machu Picchu Gate.jpg|thumb|Tourists at the main entrance to the Machu Picchu citadel]]

Efforts to manage the impact of tourism have included various measures over the years. In the 1980s, a rock from Machu Picchu's central plaza was moved to create a helicopter landing zone, a practice which was later stopped. In 2006, the company Helicusco sought approval for tourist flights over the site, but the license was soon rescinded.<ref name="ban"/> In January 2010, severe flooding caused by [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation|El Niño]] trapped over 4,000 people and disrupted access to Machu Picchu, leading to its temporary closure.<ref>{{cite news | title = 1400 tourists rescued amid Machu Picchu floods | url = https://www.france24.com/en/20100129-1400-tourists-rescued-amid-machu-picchu-floods | publisher = [[France 24]] | date = 29 January 2010 | access-date = 2024-08-12 }}</ref> The site reopened on April 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | title=Machu Picchu reopens after 2-month closure | website=NBC News | date=2010-04-01 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36138915 | access-date=2024-08-21}}</ref> To further address tourism's impact, stricter entrance regulations were introduced in July 2011, limiting the number of daily visitors to 2,500 per day to the citadel and 400 to Huayna Picchu.<ref>{{cite web | title = Machu Picchu restricted to 2,500 visitors per day | url = https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-machu-picchu-restricted-to-2500-visitors-per-day-369998.aspx | website = [[Andina (news agency)|Andina]] | date = 8 April 2011 | access-date = 2024-08-12 }}</ref> In 2018, a third entrance phase was added to better manage tourism and reduce site degradation.<ref>{{cite web | title = Peru: Everything you need to know about entrance times for Machu Picchu in 2019 | url = https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-everything-you-need-to-know-about-entrance-times-for-machu-picchu-in-2019-764846.aspx | website = [[Andina (news agency)|Andina]] | date = 7 June 2019 | access-date = 2024-08-12 }}</ref> In 2024, the daily visitor limit was officially increased to 4,500, with up to 5,600 permitted during peak season.<ref>{{cite news | title = Machu Picchu: Peru to dramatically increase number of tourists allowed to visit each day | url = https://news.sky.com/story/machu-picchu-peru-to-dramatically-increase-number-of-tourists-allowed-to-visit-attraction-each-day-13021637 | publisher = Sky News | date = 2024-06-27 | access-date = 2024-08-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Peru: Greater flow of tourists to Machu Picchu expected due to increased capacity | url = https://andina.pe/Ingles/noticia-peru-greater-flow-of-tourists-to-machu-picchu-expected-due-to-increased-capacity-985456.aspx | website = Andina | date = 2024-07-03 | access-date = 2024-08-29 }}</ref>

In May 2012, UNESCO urged additional protection measures for the site's buffer zone, especially due to the rapid growth in the nearby town of [[Aguas Calientes, Peru|Aguas Calientes]].<ref>{{cite news | title=UN fears spread of Machu Picchu town | work=[[SBS News]] | agency=Agence France-Presse | date=2012-05-28 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/un-fears-spread-of-machu-picchu-town/l07jwsh36 | access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref> Tourist deaths at Machu Picchu from [[altitude sickness]], floods, and accidents have led to criticism of UNESCO for allowing visits despite the site's high safety risks.<ref>{{cite web | title=Retired merchant navy captain died on trip of a lifetime |last=Dixon |first=Hayley |website=The Telegraph | date=2013-08-21 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/peru/10257308/Retired-merchant-navy-captain-died-on-trip-of-a-lifetime.html | access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Miller | first=Michael E. | title=German tourist falls to his death while posing for photo atop Machu Picchu | newspaper=Washington Post | date=2016-07-01 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/07/01/german-tourist-falls-to-his-death-while-trying-to-take-photo-atop-machu-picchu/ | access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bates|first=Stephen|title=Stranded tourists await rescue from Machu Picchu|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/26/machu-picchu-flood-tourists|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=14 February 2014|date=26 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Keough | first1 = Elizabeth Betsy | title = Heritage in Peril: A Critique of UNESCO's World Heritage Program | journal = Washington University Global Studies Law Review | volume = 10 | pages = 593 | year = 2011 | url = https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_globalstudies/vol10/iss3/5 }}</ref> The trend of [[Nude recreation|nude tourism]] in 2014 also led to increased surveillance by Peru's [[Ministry of Culture (Peru)|Ministry of Culture]] to end the practice.<ref>{{cite web|last=Liu|first=Evie|title=Peru to Tourists: 'Stop getting naked at Machu Picchu!'|url= http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/travel/naked-tourists-machu-picchu-peru/index.html?sr=tw032014picchunaked1030astory|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=20 March 2014|date=20 March 2014}}</ref>

In recognition of efforts to manage and protect the site, Fernando Astete, who served as Chief of the [[National Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu]] from 1994 to 2019, was honored with the "Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura" award by the [[Ministry of Culture of Peru]] in January 2020. This award acknowledged his extensive contributions to the preservation, management, and study of Machu Picchu.<ref>{{cite web | title=Personajes distinguidos con la Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura | website=[[El Peruano]] | date=2020-01-16 | url=https://elperuano.pe/noticia/88688-personajes-distinguidos-con-la-personalidad-meritoria-de-la-cultura | language=es | access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/475314/RM_025-2020-MC_ACCESIBLE.pdf |title=Resolución Ministerial N° 025-2020-MC |date=2020-01-14 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=[[Ministry of Culture (Peru)|Ministry of Culture]] |publication-place=Lima}}</ref>

During the [[2022–2023 Peruvian protests]], routes to Machu Picchu were blocked, trapping thousands of tourists and leading to a government airlift of the stranded visitors.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=2023-01-21 |title=Peru protests: Machu Picchu closed indefinitely and tourists stranded |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64360531 |access-date=2023-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-20 |title=Tourists stuck in Machu Picchu due to Peru protests airlifted out |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64037002 |access-date=2023-02-03}}</ref> Due to these disruptions, the Ministry of Culture closed the site indefinitely on January 22, 2023, and it was reopened on February 15, 2023.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="dw.com">{{Cite news |date=22 January 2023 |title=Peru: Government shuts Machu Picchu as protests continue |work=DW |url=https://www.dw.com/en/peru-government-shuts-machu-picchu-as-protests-continue/a-64477333 |access-date=22 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Machu Picchu reopens to tourists after closure over civil unrest | url = https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/machu-picchu-reopens-tourists-after-closure-over-civil-unrest-2023-02-15/ | publisher = [[Reuters]] | date = 15 February 2023 | access-date = 2024-08-12 }}</ref>