Peru's national auditor has warned that Machu Picchu, the iconic Incan citadel and UNESCO World Heritage site, is facing structural damage and ecological imbalance due to excessive tourism.
Known as the "City in the Sky," Machu Picchu is not only a symbol of Peru's cultural heritage but also a sacred destination for global travelers. However, recent findings from the Peruvian National Audit Office have raised alarms over the ancient site's future, warning that if growing threats go unchecked, Machu Picchu could be added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.
Every day, thousands of tourists arrive at the mountaintop site, bringing significant economic vitality to the region. At the same time, this high level of foot traffic is straining the fragile infrastructure of the 15th-century Incan ruin, far exceeding its sustainable capacity.
To preserve the site, Peru's Ministry of Culture has capped daily visitors at 4,500, with a seasonal increase to 5,600 during peak travel periods. Even so, demand often outstrips supply, with certain ticket routes selling out within weeks on the official website. In response, the government has introduced a staggered entry system with various timed routes to better manage crowd flow.
"In this case my government and also the Minister of Culture are trying to protect [Machu Picchu]. That's the reason they open circuits like No. 2, No. 1, No. 3, and the idea is to preserve and protect Machu Bicchu," said William Sequeircs Chambi, a certified guide.
Despite such protective efforts, the audit report stresses that tourism levels are still exceeding safe limits and could pose long-term risks to the site's preservation if not properly managed.
Machu Picchu faces structural, ecological threats amid surging tourism pressure
Machu Picchu faces structural, ecological threats amid surging tourism pressure
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to China signals a policy shift towards building a more pragmatic relationship between the two countries, according to a Canadian researcher.
Carney arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to begin an official visit to China through Saturday, which marks the first trip by a Canadian Prime Minister to the country in eight years.
Robert Hanlon, director and principal investigator of Canada and the Asia Pacific Policy Project (CAPPP) at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) that Carney's visit indicates Canada is recalibrating its strategic perception of China, which could cement the foundation for the country's economic diversification efforts and boost the development of bilateral cooperation.
"I think it's a clear message that he has moved Canada's strategy to a much more pragmatic, interest-based, -focused relationship with our trading partners, moving away from values-based narratives that we might have heard on previous governments. Canada has spoken about moving from what the Prime Minister's Office is calling "from reliance to resilience", and that means diversifying our economies and our trade everywhere in the world. And so China being our second largest trading partner, it makes perfect sense for our PM to head to Beijing," he said.
The scholar also noted the huge cooperation potential between the two sides in economic and trade fields, citing Canada's efforts to step up shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the planned construction of an oil pipeline in Alberta which aims to increase export access to Asian markets. "Canada and China both share tremendous economic opportunities together and so finding ways to enhance our exports. Canada specifically looking to build out its LNG and oil, kind of export market. We know Canada is a major producer of critical minerals and China is a buyer. And so there's a lot of synergy between that kind of those kind of markets," he said.
Canadian PM's visit to China paves way for more pragmatic trade ties: scholar
