Good news for folks planning a trip to Machu Picchu! The protest drama over the new e-ticket system has finally taken a bow.
According to The National on Thursday (1/2), the PeruRail workers’ protest gig has wrapped up. It seems like both the higher-ups and the protesters found some common ground, and voila, the transition to the new platform is a go!
PeruRail spilled the beans that some train services are already up and running, and the regular schedule will kick back in on Thursday. The trains will chug along from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, a town close to the ancient Inca ruins that UNESCO is keeping a close eye on.
At first, the new e-ticket system got some serious side-eye from the workers. They felt like they were left out of the loop, accusing PeruRail of monopolizing the whole ticket game. Not cool, right?
The whole electronic ticket shindig was cooked up to keep a lid on the number of visitors as tourism starts picking up post-pandemic. PeruRail wants to be the superhero responsible for saving Machu Picchu from becoming the next crowded hotspot.
“We gotta move forward and get our economy back on track,” declared Urteaga, one of Peru’s ministers.
Over the past week, hotels and restaurants around Machu Picchu were ghost towns. The protests put the brakes on the trains, leaving tourists stranded far from the ancient wonder.
Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca rockstar, usually hosts around 3,800 visitors daily. But with the growing horde, it started feeling the burn of overtourism, dealing with erosion and even political protests. It’s safe to say that too many tourists became Peru’s unplanned headache.
Last January, the site had to close shop indefinitely due to ongoing protests against the new president. The closure lasted a month, and tour operators claimed the effects lingered for months.
“This mess affects everyone, from the local crafters relying on tourist sales to the guides, and even the big-shot agencies like yours truly,” spilled the beans local tour guide Palacios.