The Ministry of Culture of Peru has announced a new permit system for tourists visiting Machu Picchu that will take effect as of 1st July 2017.
The permit system will require all travellers to makes reservations online from the official Machu Picchu website or via a UK-based or Peru-based tour operator or agent. Visitors will also be restricted to two entry periods, in the morning from 6.00 – 12.00 or in the afternoon from 12.00 to 17.30. Those wishing to stay for the day will have to purchase two tickets, one for the morning and one for the afternoon.
From 1st July, the use of an official Machu Picchu tour guide or licensed tour guide when visiting the site will be compulsory and guides will be able to lead groups of a maximum of 16 people.
LATA member Journey Latin America believes that Machu Picchu will remain just as popular as it was prior to the new system and will allow authorities to closely manage footfall around the site while controlling visitor flow to ensure the site is managed with long-term sustainability in mind.
Tony Mason, Chief Executive, Latin American Travel Association (LATA), said: “LATA brings together a number of Peruvian tour operators who organise tours to Machu Picchu and also has a wealth of experience working with Peru’s official tourism body, PromPeru. Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most important tourist sites, attracting millions of visitors every year. We anticipate that the new system introduced by the Ministry of Culture will regulate the flow of travellers entering the site and help to preserve the authenticity of this national treasure.
“This new system emphasises the importance of tourism to Peru as well as the efforts being made by governments to improve the visitor experience at the destinations’ tourist attractions. We would like to highlight that for the first six months of the new permit system, Machu Picchu entry tickets booked using the old system for visits between July and December 2017 will be honoured.”
