Soaring Fares in Machu Picchu Raise New Concerns

Carlos Canales, president of Peru´s National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR), revealed Tuesday that rising fares to visit the former imperial city of Machu Picchu –prices are now up a hundred percent- are threatening the arrival of tourists to this majestic spot of Cusco.

Mr. Canales explained those pricey entry fees are throwing a wrench into the flow of foreign visitors to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Fares swayed between 10 to 20 bucks apiece before the increase.

“And to add insult to injury,” Mr. Canales said on CPN radio a few days ago, “the bus that shuttles tourists up to the Incan citadel also raised its fare by 30 percent on the former price of $9. That makes it now the costliest mile in the world.”

In Mr. Canales´ opinion, Peruvian taxpayers will now be given the bag to hold and forced to pick up the tab for something they just cannot afford to pay.

“Tourism is not the goose that lays the golden eggs, but rather a sustainable product that calls for serenity and coherence in the long run,” Mr. Canales was quoted as saying in his radio interview. “This can only scare off tourists and bring far more hardships than economic benefits.”