Impacts of tourism on communities surrounding Machu Picchu

Impacts and analysis of tourism on communities surrounding Machu PicchuH Manlio Davis & Fahmi Nas

Introduction to Machu PicchuMachu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres above sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machu Picchu District in Peru.It was designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1983.It was built in 1450 and abandoned only a century later (during the Spanish conquest) and then rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham.Machu Picchu was used as a summer retreat by Emperors Pachacuti and Tupac Amaru and their royal courts.Intro continuedEach day more than 1,500 people trek the ancient Inca trail to the ruins and another 4 ,000 tourists arrive by train and walk the walls and paths of the site (Wallace 2005)According to Machu Picchu Management. Machu Picchu generates $6 million a year for Peru from entrance tickets costing $20 while the Inca trail brings in another $3 million.

Quechua manPisac, the Sacred ValleyWhat is the significance behind Machu Picchu?In 1971 there were 37,000 visitors, and by the end of 2014 Cuzco will have hosted about roughly 2.6 million tourists, according to The Regional Direction of Foreign Trade and Tourism.The popularity and the increase in visitors is correlated to the increase in cheaply available air travel and the advent of mass tourism.

The pros of tourismProvides cultural exchange (learning new languages, trying new foods, learning new customs, etc.) between hosts and guests.Encourages the preservation and celebration of local festivals and cultural events.Facilities and infrastructure supported by tourism (e.g. the railway from Cuzco to Machu Picchu) can also benefit communities.

The cons of tourismMay attract visitors whose lifestyles and ideas conflict with the community's. May lead to the loss of traditional values and culture through cultural diffusion resulting from normal, everyday interaction. Over reliance on tourism can be a danger economically if the tourists stop visiting: As an ever present threat, the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), a Marxist terrorist group, has the potential to disrupt local tourist economies with their activities.The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime announced last year that Peru was the worlds top cocaine producer, producing up to 340 tonnes of cocaine. Anthropological perspectivesTourism, far from being the destroyer of local culture, the imperialistic pollution of hitherto pristine societies that it is frequently portrayed to be, can, and often is, a catalyst for the invention of new cultural products, or the revival of moribund traditions (Graburn 1976)VSLand reform of that era [1970-1996] had a clear negative impact on agriculture and pastoralism, and the homespun weaving industry for which the area was justly famous went into a tailspin. Quechua peasants now largely dress in discarded second-hand Western clothes, except the few in the tourist spots who pose for photographs by tourists for a fee. (Nash 2007)Analysis of anthropological perspectivesSince 1944, a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsayhuamn, two kilometres from its original celebration in central Cusco) on June 24 of each year, attracting thousands of tourists and local visitors.VSAs a result of tourism developments, land reform has negatively impacted agriculture and cottage industries (weaving, pottery, and small scale farming) in the Sacred Valley. For well over 200 years, Quechua people have been fighting for indigenous land rights, however since the 1970s the situation has worsened considerably.

Is ecotourism the solution?Ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people" (Vincent and Thompson 2002)According to Vincent and Thompson (2002), ecotourism is the fastest growing form of tourism with growth rates of 10-30% annually while the tourism industry grows at a mere 4% annually.

ConclusionTo be sure, tourism can be destructive, but it can also be a great ferment for cultural change and florescence. (van den Berghe and Flores Ochoa 2000)

Testimonies from indigenous peoples confirm that ecotourism is highly oversold as a concept, most say that ecotourism proposals look little different in character than other industry ventures in their midst. Their experience is that the ecotourism industry profiteers behind indigenous cultures, behind a mask of doing good. (Johnston 2006:15)