Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Next year, Peru celebrates 100 years since Hiram Bingham discovered the forgotten citadel of Machu Picchu. Peru's chamber of tourism hopes the festivities will kick-start a wave of new interest, after flooded rivers closed Machu Picchu for two months earlier this year. Here, the chamber's president Carlos Canales talks with El Comercio.  

A different perspective on Machu Picchu. (Photo by Jorge Riveros Cayo)

By Jimena Villavicencio, El Comercio
Adapted from Spanish by Diana Schwalb

Next year Machu Picchu celebrates its hundredth anniversary since its formal discovery. What are the expectations for business?
High expectations, which is why we are already working on Machu Picchu’s re-launch, with strong media content. What we're looking for is a similar wave of growth of visitors that was generated in 2007, with the announcement of the new seven wonders of the world, which was hurt by problems of nature the beginning of the year.

Among the plans, will there be improvements of roads or a new entrance to Machu Picchu?
The first thing that we are going to do is fix the town of Aguas Calientes [the town at the base of Machu Picchum, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo]; we will work on their facades and public spaces. We have also asked the government for an impact study to find new business possibilities. However, we doubt this will be ready for the hundredth anniversary.

How many visitors will we have this year, considering the temporary closure due to rains?
Not even 450 thousand tourists. Almost half of our total capacity. That is why it is important to double this number for next year and we seek to do it with this big event.

Machu Picchu Stats The increase in entrances by tourists to Machu Picchu grew rapidly from 2004-2008, shown by official figures below. The years 2009 and 2010 have slowed down, however, starting with a dip caused by the economic crisis. (Seventy-five percent of visits were made by foreigners over the six-year period.)  Then in 2010, Machu Picchu was closed in February and March after floods. The January to August figures show a 24% decrease in 2010 compared to 2009. Download the complete figures here (Pdf).

What will be the most important activities?
We are organizing an exhibition on native birds in November, and in December, we will have an open event on spectacled bears. In February, we will have the orchid International Seminary since there are 200 varieties of these exotic flowers in Machu Picchu. In May, we will discuss the impact of tourism on Machu Picchu, for which we will bring experts from other reserves such as Galapagos.

And in July, you will have the main event…
Exactly. The event will begin July 7, the main day of the hundredth anniversary, and it will last five days. We are preparing a show that will undoubtedly give something to talk about, with a traditional theme where there will be a flight of the condor, lights and more; all this from the highest point of Machu Picchu, in a presentation for 500 people.  

Will the international press be among those 500 participants?  
We have invited 200 media outlets to visit us during those dates with all expenses covered. Among this group there are journalists of the most important newspapers of Spain, United States, England, as well as important channels like ABC and BBC. The national press will, of course, be part of the event too.

How will Peruvians participate?
It will all be transmitted live on national TV and, simultaneously, there will be activities in Cusco's main square, as well as in Lima and many other provinces so that every Peruvian can see it and feel proud.

Add to del.icio.us | |

4 Comments

# Rick Crosby says :
26 November, 2010 [ 07:44 ]

No new entrace...the winding road to the ruins is part of Macchu Piccu as far as I am concerned. Paving it would be a different matter, and it would help a lot for the buses as they ascend and descend the road. Also, clear the rocks so there is no rock slide. 

# David Eppelsheimer says :
26 November, 2010 [ 01:23 ]

Sounds like fun!  Dave in TOSA

# Gaby Lourdes Alvarez Hanna says :
1 December, 2010 [ 04:36 ]

1,de diciembre de 2010.
I AM WRITING THIS MESSAGE FROM THE STATE OF PORTLAND, OREGON, USA. WHERE I LIVE FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. I AM A PROUD "CUZQUENA", WHO WAS BORN, RAISE AND EDUCATED THERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF CUZCO WHERE MY FAMILY HAS A 300 YEAR TRADITION. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE US, SINCE 1962, WHEN I RECEIVED A FULLBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP IN THE US. I HAVE ATTENDED THE U. OF ARIZONA, U OF HAWAII AND THE UCSB.
IT HAS BEEN 48 YEARS AND DURING ALL THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN AN VOLUNTARY AMBASSADOR OF MY GREAT COUNTRY, AND EVEN MORE MY PLACE OF BIRTH, CUZCO. MAJORING IN LANGUAGES AND CULTURE, I HAVE GIVEN LECTURES ON MACHUPICCHU,OF COURSE AND ABOUT THE ARCHAELOGICAL SITES FROM SIPAN, CUZCO. I STUDIED THE QUECHUAS AND THE AYMARAS, LIVING TODAY IN VERY INHOSPITABLE PLACES AT 15,000 FEET ALTITUDE. I HAVE ALSO SEND A GREAT NUMBER OF MY STUDENTS TO VISIT MACHUPICCHU, CUZCO AND PUNO. SOME WENT TO SIPAN AND OTHERS TO NAZCA AS WELL.
I CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT CUZCO AND MACHUPICCHU AND WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE THERE NEXT YEAR FOR THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE "FINDING" (IT WAS THERE ALL THE TIME), OF THE LOST CITY OF MACHU PICCHU.
I WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS PERHAPHS AS A LECTURER HERE IN THE US AND/OR IN CUZCO.

# James Byrne says :
13 January, 2011 [ 10:10 ]

I ventured to Peru in 2007 and had the most amazing experience of my whole life at Machu Picchu. I wrote about my experience here-
www.secretoftheincas.co.uk

I am going back to Peru again in a few months time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hiram Bingham expedition, and I know I will love it again. I can't wait to see Machu Picchu again!

---