Machu Picchu: Planning for Sustainability Development - Case Study Example

Planning for Sustainability (Machu Picchu, Peru) Contents Page Destination: Machu Picchu 3 2. Planning and Development to Achieve Sustainability 4 3. Current Efforts at Sustainability 8 4. Conclusion 10 5. Bibliography 13 1. Destination: Machu Picchu Concerns about preserving unspoiled natural environments, historical sites and supporting local populations and commerce have grown in popularity in the past few decades. These ideas have also permeated the fast growing business of tourism. Sustainable tourism is defined as “an industry which attempts to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems” (GDRC, 2000). Many touristic attractions and the people indigenous to the area can benefit greatly from this type of travel and sightseeing, mainly in developing countries. The United Nations in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization adopted the “Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP)” initiative at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (DSD, 2009). Not only is sustainable tourism important for local populations but it is indeed necessary for the tourists themselves, who want to enjoy the adventures and the culture in these locations. Among its Latin American participants ST-EP projects, initiated in 2005, include countries like Peru, home to Machu Picchu (WTO, 2009). Machu Picchu is a world renowned, ancient Inca archaeological site. Located in the Peruvian Andes “Inca architecture reveals itself here in all of its force with the titanic earthen works which multiplied the platforms, […] and literally sculpted the mountain whose cyclopean construction appear to be a prolongation of nature” (UNESCO, 1992). Spanish invaders that traveled to this part of the world never discovered Machu Picchu and the Inca`s that inhabited the area, lived, built and died without experiencing any foreign invasions (AEDES, 1994). This therefore, makes Machu Picchu a sacred site not only for enthusiastic travelers but also for academics such as archaeologists, anthropologists and historians, both local and international, who want to study unadulterated Inca technology and culture. According to a report from the World Heritage Convention, people living around this site still do so in much the same way their Inca ancestors did, with llama as the major livestock and a diet based on potatoes, and maize. Surrounded by luscious forest, the area is also important for its content of flora and fauna (UNESCO, 1992). 2. Planning and Development to Achieve Sustainability Both public and private parties are involved in sustainable tourism in Peru. On the public side, the Ministry of Tourism and International Trade is in charge of the development and modification of touristic activities. Out of the seven government agencies involved in tourism, developing the infrastructure for all activities of touristic nature lies in the responsibility of the Ministry of the Presidency while the archaeological and natural sites, like Machu Picchu, are handled and maintained by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Natural Resources respectively (UNEP, ca. 2001). Other public institutions such as the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Transport are also involved as they facilitate access to touristic remote areas by building highways and roads. For example, the Panamerican highway and the Arequipa, Moquegua, Desaguadero route reduces air travel, thus also reducing the harmful effect to the environment (Arequipa Peru Travel, 2008). CANATUR is analogous to a Peruvian national chamber of commerce, working in the interest of the tourism industry. Their tasks include applied research, lobbying and implementing legislature that support tourism (UNEP, ca. 2001). All the above mentioned ministries can have a direct influence in the development and improvement of sustainable tourism in different ways. La Asociación Peruana de Turismo de Aventura y Ecoturismo (APTAE) is one of the many private sector tourist organizations. They vociferously argue for the privatization of some touristic destinations, one of which is Machu Picchu, and the protection of these same areas which are vulnerable when it comes to environmental degradation since the livelihood APTAE depends on the safeguarding and conservation of these areas (UNEP, ca. 2001). APTAE also has, as part of its mission, to encourage and develop domestic tourism (APTAE, ca. 2009). Non Profit Organizations also have a hand in making Peru’s tourism one that is sustainable. The Specialized Association for Sustainable Development has as its mandate to promote human rights and political involvement as well as aiding in building up ecotourism, mainly in Southern Peru (AEDES, ca. 1994). All its activities involve participation of civilians. A Japanese NGO works toward helping local authorities to form national policies and strategies in the domain of tourism (UNEP, ca. 2001). A major problem that is facing the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is directly linked to it geographical position. It is located “on the flattened top of a narrow steep-sided ridge which rises within but some 650m above [...] the Rio Urumbamba canyon” (UNEP, 2008). High annual precipitation in the area of Machu Picchu makes it vulnerable to landslides (UNESCO, 2006). A National Geographic article in 2002 reports studies by Kyoto University geologists that voice concerns of landslides in Machu Picchu. This has fuelled talk about the possibility of installing a cable car to transport tourists up and down the mountain, hence reducing the stress on the slopes (National Geographic, 2002). However, UNESCO countered the idea following an assessment stating that vibrations from the cables could worsen landslides (National Geographic, 2002). In a 2006 UNESCO report, the committee requests the training of “local professionals” to recognize the negative effects of landslides and to suggest methods of minimizing damage to the area and its people. This would not only involve local people in preservation projects of the historic site but would reinforce the economy. Another natural disaster affecting the forests of the area are fires that are common during the winter season, from May to September (UNEP, 2008). In a 2007 UNESCO report, the representatives remark on the uninhibited growth of the Machu Picchu village and health, and social problems rooting from overpopulation and difficulty in obtaining permission for maintenance work on the Inca archaeological site (UNESCO, 2007). In the lengthy 2008 report, there was praise for local involvement, for disseminating useful information to visitors and work with risk management during landslides. However, this was followed by a long list of suggestions for improving and safeguarding the historical site. Most of these addressed ensuring disaster aversion by risk assessments, reducing the population burden on the neighbouring villages and an aesthetic concern over helicopters flying above the archaeological site. UNESCO has requested that the number of daily visited to the Machu Picchu site be reduced to 800 and that visitors wear soft shoes (Barcelona - Management, 2009). Both these rules, if implemented, will reduce the risk of landslides as the stress on the slopes will be diminished. Moreover, negative social effects due to large numbers of foreigners can also be reduced. Even though tourism is imperative to Peruvian economy, it does have its downfalls, among which are lifestyle conflicts between those of locals and visitors, crowding the dirt roads (which inevitably leads to environmental problems), porters that are over worked causing health problems in a community that is impoverished, competition among tourists and locals for services and facilities and the very old problem of desecration of historic and spiritual sites (Barcelona – Impact of Tourism, 2009). Visitors traveling through the Inca Trail increased more than 13 times from 1984 to 2000 and not only does this stress the slopes but it also causes the area to be littered (Barcelona – Impact of Tourism, 2009). Moreover, the National Institute of Culture insists that Machu Picchu can support up to 3000 visitors a day (Barcelona – Attitudes to Management). A Conservation program supported by the government of Finland has made progress in forest fire prevention and waste disposal plans (Barcelona - Management, 2009). Peruvians are also directly involved in the preservation of Machu Picchu through an organization named Yachay Wasi that successfully campaigned for the protection of the spiritual heritage of the Peruvians (Barcelona - Management, 2009). Such organizations should be encouraged not only by the local government but also by the international community. Supporting local institutions will undoubtedly increase effectiveness of conservation efforts as they are more likely to succeed in introducing new ideas and methods to get villagers involved in the movement to protect Machu Picchu. Though these locals may be able to put pressure on the government to take more action to preserve sites like Machu Picchu, the international community must also insist on the safe-keeping of this world heritage site, especially in response to the claims made regarding tourist numbers by the National Institute of Culture. Indeed, this is a prime example of how important of a role tourism plays in the Peruvian economy. As the industry provides a millions of dollars a year through Machu Picchu alone, Peru is thought to be a tourism-dependent country with all the potential problems that this can entail (Barcelona – Impact of Tourism, 2009). In addition to the population burden, a problem regarding waste disposal mechanisms was also brought up in a 2008 report which requested the organization of proper infrastructure for the job (UNESCO, 2008). As the tourist industry has grown, villages around Machu Picchu have expanded, building hotels, restaurants and other touristic establishments, to absorb the increasing amount of visitors. This, in turn, has caused large waste disposals into the Urubamba River, another problem which is both environmental and societal (Barcelona – Impact of Tourism, 2009). It is imperative that recycling operations and eco-friendly, biodegradable products be introduced to the community and that their use be encouraged not only to tourists but also to locals. 3. Current Efforts at Sustainability Cusco, the capital of the Incas, is the gateway to Machu Picchu and hosts several major tour operators. Aventuras Ecologicas Manu was created in response to an increased demand in ecotourism. Explorama Tours has built a scientific research centre and protects 250,000 acres of forest in its private reserve (UNEP, ca. 2001). Both Explorama and Cuzco Amazonico, another tourist organization, have built facilities for research and use their profits to both protect the forest and compensate scientists working in their laboratories (UNEP, ca. 2001). At the beginning of this decade, work was already underway to involve locals in all the aforementioned projects. Peru has defined nine areas to be focused upon in order to successfully develop sustainable tourism, from developing infrastructure, to informing the general public about the subject, to involving all strata of the community, to developing dialog between developed and developing countries (UNEP, ca. 2001). Because of its magnificent biodiversity and the contribution of tourism, fuelled by natural and historical sites, to the development of the Peruvian economy and its people, the government established various institutions such as the Environment National Council and the National Commission of Biological Diversity to develop an environmental policy (UNEP, ca. 2001). The country also adopted the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan which hopes to make Peru the first country to reap benefits from biodiversity by employing it in a sustainable manner before 2021 (CBD, 200-). These plans and public offices were put in place to “establish national priorities and actions on biological diversity conservation matters…” (UNEP, ca. 2001). Many are the parties that benefit from tourism to the historic site of Machu Picchu. Tour guides and porters make a living and support their families through their jobs serving tourists, locals benefit from different services that are supported by tourism (accessibility to new technologies for example), businesses and their employees increase their revenue and the government receive taxes from tourists which can then be used to develop the area (Barcelona – Effects of Tourism, 2009). Tourism has helped to conserve Machu Picchu as its preservation is important to keep it as a touristic attraction. However, maladapted methods or touristic activities still harm the site (Barcelona – Effects of Tourism, 2009). Because tourism is a seasonal industry, many workers in the field are unemployed for part of the year and larger numbers of visitors harm the land itself but also flora and fauna thus, reducing biodiversity (Barcelona – Effects of Tourism, 2009). One last problem with promoting tourism is that the rates for the local attractions are set with tourists’ incomes in mind; therefore, many locals are unable to afford the luxury of enjoying their own historical sites (Barcelona – Effects of Tourism, 2009). It is important to take further action to make tourism to Machu Picchu more sustainable. In 2005, Peruvian authorities put forth a $130 million plan to preserve Machu Picchu subsequent to a warning from UNESCO that it might lose the title of World Heritage Site if measures to protect the area were not put into place (Barcelona – Management, 2009). Given the current situation regarding Machu Picchu, it seems important to put into place a strong infrastructure to manage the workers in the tourism industry and the projects to preserve the site. Machu Picchu might benefit from closing down for month or so every year for maintenance purposes, much like the Inca Trail (Barcelona – Management, 2009). Authorities can also implement a pricing system so that locals can have access to Machu Picchu at a much lower price than outside visitors. This, of course, will enhance knowledge and understanding of the importance of preserving of Machu Picchu. Programs should be put in place to hire off season workers for maintenance or administrative work to prepare for upcoming tourist periods. Finally, implementing student volunteer programs for Peruvians as well as foreign students in collaboration with international organizations will increase awareness and can boost the economy during the off season. 4. Conclusion The agencies, policies and collaborations with international organizations described in the preceding paragraphs demonstrate how the Republic of Peru has been working towards preserving their natural forest lands, including the rich fauna that inhabit it, and taking measures to involve locals in the tourism industry. This will allow them to extract financial benefits as well as valuable knowledge and tools (organizational or otherwise) from the resulting experiences to be used in the future, not only in tourism but possibly in adjacent domains as well. Building these administrative, financial and political systems have required not only governmental involvement but significant contributions from the private sector, international partnerships and NGO’s. Since Machu Picchu was named as a World Heritage Site in 1983 Peru has been supported in its tourism and preservation projects by many international organizations including the World Bank (UNEP,ca. 2001). In this respect, UNESCO has been involved in pressing the government into securing the land and the people around Machu Picchu since 1983 (UNESCO, 2006). In the 2007 report, UNESCO commends INC and INRENA, one of the three institutions working towards sustainable tourism in particular, for their successful work in reforestation, re-introduction of native plants, establishment of museums, and developing awareness programs for children among others (UNESCO, 2007). The issue of landslides is brought up and it appears in the following two reports as well, bearing witness to the gravity of the matter. In the final report UNESCO published in 2009, the committee notes marked improvements in tourist number control, cancellation of helicopter flights and risk prevention plans but continues to impress upon the importance of “uncontrolled development” in the Machu Picchu village. The report ends with the suggestion that international aid should be provided to Peru to ensure preservation of Machu Picchu (UNESCO, 2009). The state of Peru has numerous and valuable programs in place, both local and international, to make sustainable tourism a success. However, implementing some of these theoretical policies and programs is still a concern as can be witnessed in the UNESCO reports, especially the 2008 report urging Peru to declare Machu Picchu as a site “in danger”. According to the most recent UNESCO reports, the area of most concern in the Machu Picchu area seems to be the populations living around the site. It is imperative that, when dealing with the rural populations near Machu Picchu, organizations working to remedy problems in this geographical area must consider adapting the methods and solutions provided by international organizations, like the UN or the Japanese NGO (working on national policies), to the culture and customs of the locals. It is possible that a large population in the surrounding area and problems arising from it continues to be an issue in Machu Picchu because of maladaptation of techniques or ideas applied to solve it. Crinion, in his 2003 article about eco-tourism points out that there is no blue print for successful ecotourism development (or in this case, sustainable tourism in general) and that each location needs to be regarded in its own right, with its own advantages and disadvantages. Works Cited Sustainable Tourism, 2010. Sustaining Tourism. [online] Available at: [Accessed 6 December 2010]. The Global Development Research Centre (GDRC), 2000. What is Sustainable Tourism?. [online] Available at: [Accessed 5 December 2010]. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Division for Sustainable Development (DSD), 2009. Sustainable Tourism (SD Topics). [online] Available at: [Accessed 5 December 2010]. World Tourism Organization (WTO), 2009. ST-EP Projects. [online] Available at: [Accessed 5 December 2010]. UNESCO: World Heritage Convention, 1992. Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. [online] Available at: [Accessed 6 December 2010]. Specialized Association for Sustainable Development (AEDES), 1994. Integrating Biodiversity into the Tourism Sector. [online] Available at: [Accessed on 6 Dec 2010]. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), ca. 2001. Integrating Biodiversity in to the Tourism Sector (Biodiversity Planning Support Programme). [online] Available at: [Accessed on 6 Dec 2010]. Arequipa Peru Travel, 2008. Getting Here in Arequipa. [online] Available at: < http://www.arequipatravel.com/getting-here-in-arequipa/> [Accessed 6 Dec 2010]. APTAE, ca. 2009. Mission and Objectives (Quienes Somos). [online] Available at: < http://www.aptae.org> [Accessed 6 Dec 2010]. AEDES, ca. 1994. AEDES. [online] Available at: < http://www.aedes.com.pe> [Accessed 6 Dec 2010]. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 200-. Peru: Status and Trends of Biodiversity. [online] Available at: [Accessed on 6 Dec 2010]. National Geographic, 2002. Machu Picchu Under Threat From Pressures of Tourism. [online] Available at: < http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/04/0415_020415_machu_2.html> [Accessed 6 Dec 2010]. UNESCO, 2006. Decision - 30COM 7B.35 - State of Conservation (Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu). [online] Available at: < http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1121> [Accessed 6 Dec 2010]. UNESCO, 2007. Decision - 31COM 7B.45 – Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru). [online] Available at: < http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1426> [Accessed 6 Dec 2010]. UNESCO, 2008. Decision - 32COM 7B.44 - Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru) (C/N 274). [online] Available at: < http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1650> [Accessed 6 Dec 2010]. UNESCO, 2009. Decision - 33COM 7B.42 - Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru) (C/N 274). 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