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
India, home to one of the world's youngest populations, is witnessing a growing number of students heading to China in search of quality education and stronger career prospects.
Fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and engineering are seeing a notable rise in enrollments.
Naresh Patra, a researcher in astrophysics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, chose to study in China for what he describes as the excellent value for the potential boost to his career.
"First thing, the education system is very good and expenses are too low. And second point [is that] you will get good exposure about machine learning and AI, and third point you will get jobs immediately after passing from these universities," said Naresh Patra, a student from India.
There has been a noticeable surge in inquiries from Indian students for courses in engineering and artificial intelligence. To attract more international applicants, Chinese universities have ramped up investment in world-class infrastructure, including advanced laboratories, while expanding scholarship offerings across a wide range of disciplines.
Akshay Bhambri is among those who secured such a scholarship, supporting his research in traditional medicine. He describes his academic experience in China as highly professional and well-structured.
"In different departments, there are enough resources to do that, and even in libraries, whatever you need is provided immediately to you. So this kind of environment for a researcher, for a student, be it undergrad or PhD student, is very helpful when they want to do some kind of research or some kind of understanding to get what they want immediately, so that they can excel in their work," said the researcher.
Cross-border studies are also foundational to forming academic partnerships between China and India, but experts say that even greater outreach and engagement are needed.
"It will be more possible if there is a higher level, not just the people-to-people level, but (if) we see the authorities from both sides interact, and university-to-university interactions, in that case, there would be a lot of confidence building," said Nishith Shah, principal of India China Academy.
More Indian students choose Chinese universities for quality education
