Bus Row Strands Tourists, Highlighting Machu Picchu’s Overburdened Tourist Transport
Machu Picchu, a 15th-Century Inca city, is Peru’s most popular destination. It remains a UNESCO world heritage site globally. A continuing dispute over tourist buses recently caused major chaos. The incident stranded some 1,400 tourists who needed immediate evacuation. This conflict highlights Overburdened Tourist Transport issues at the site. The only alternative to the bus is an arduous, steep, two-hour walk.
Monopoly Disputes and High Costs
The conflict revolves around bus company Consettur’s license. Consettur transported approximately 4,500 people daily for 30 years. The company recently lost its license to a rival firm. Local protestors blocked the railway line with rocks immediately. This occurred following an insufficiently open bidding process. Peruvian authorities had to clear the tracks and evacuate tourists immediately.
Many locals were unhappy that Consettur held a monopoly. They believe the lucrative bus service license transfers directly to the new company, San Antonio de Torontoy. A round-trip bus ticket costs $24 for a foreigner. The train to Aguas Calientes is expensive, costing $140 for the cheapest round-trip. A tourist complained, “We thought it was one train [all the way]. And we wondered if there was any more transport… it would all be included.”
Local Revenue and Systemic Failures
.The mayor of Aguas Calientes expressed dissatisfaction immediately. Only 10% of entry ticket sales stay locally. The rest goes to the Ministry of Culture for other archaeological sites. The local community needs more funds for basic services like water and hospitals. Carlos González, president of the regional tourism chamber, wants state oversight.
He pushes for an updated law for the vice ministry of tourism to manage transport. Unstable national governments make change difficult consistently. Peru had six different presidents in the last six years. The dispute over bus income highlights how critical Overburdened Tourist Transport is to the region’s economy and social welfare.
