Tickets Sold Out, Peruvian Government Increases Visitor Capacity Of Machu Picchu Situs Site

Machu Picchu in Peru. (Wikimedia Commons/CEllen)

JAKARTA - The Peruvian government decided to increase visitor capacity at the historical site of Machu Picchu, after the local culture ministry announced that tickets for the iconic destination were sold out until mid-August.

The decision has expanded the number of visitors to 5,044 per day, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Roberto Sánchez Palomino tweeted Thursday. That's up from 4,044 visitors per day.

The increase in maximum capacity allows more tourists to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, described by the United Nations as "perhaps the creation of the most amazing city of the Inca Empire at its height."

This is not the first time this month Peru has added capacity to an environmentally vulnerable location. On July 17, the Ministry of Culture officially increased the reception capacity from 3,044 people to 4,044 people per day, CNN Travel reported July 29.

In a Facebook statement, the ministry said of the previous increase: "This decision takes into account the conservation of the property to avoid irreparable damage that jeopardizes its extraordinary universal value, following the recommendations issued by UNESCO to the State of Peru."

The ministry has urged tourists to plan their visit to the Inca city in advance. You can go to Machu Picchu Tickets to see what's still available.

It is known, Peru is not the only country in the world that is trying to maintain a balance between tourism demand and the preservation of valuable sites.

Looking forward to 2023, Venice, Italy, will be the first city in the world to require an entry fee, with a booking system set up for daytrippers. Only those with reservations will be allowed into the city.