In brief
The bus company Consettur has faced criticism following a bidding process that led to their license being transferred to a rival company. This has sparked protests and questions around who benefits from the lucrative transport service to one of the world's most famous archaeological sites. Additionally, local leaders express concern over the distribution of revenue from site entrance fees.
Machu Picchu, the remains of a 15th Century Inca city, is Peru's most popular tourist destination, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Yet a continuing dispute over the buses that take visitors up to the mountain-top site recently saw some 1,400 stranded tourists needing to be evacuated. Cristian Alberto Caballero Chacón is head of operations for bus company Consettur, which for the past 30 years has transported some 4,500 people every day to Machu Picchu from the local town of Aguas Calientes. It is a 20-minute journey, and the only alternative is an arduous, steep, two-hour walk. Chacón admits that in the past few months there have been some conflicts between people from different communities here. This conflict revolves around Consettur losing its licence to a rival bus firm in this remote part of Peru, where, unless you want to hike over Andes mountains, the only access is by public transport.To get to Machu Picchu without walking, tourists must first take a train to Aguas Calientes, which takes from two to three and a half hours. And then transfer to a bus for the final leg.Back in September, local protestors angry that Consettur was being replaced following what they saw as an insufficiently open bidding process, blocked the railway line to Aguas Calientes with rocks. This resulted in Peruvian authorities having to clear the tracks and evacuate tourists on special train services. Although Consettur's licence ran out in September, it is continuing to run its buses. And due to legal challenges, the new company, San Antonio de Torontoy, has yet to start operations. Tourism stakeholders, including local community leaders, express their dissatisfaction over how revenues from the site’s entrance fees are distributed, with only 10% staying in the region to support local initiatives. Community members, like Dina Huillca, advocate for more investment in local services such as education and healthcare, indicating a broader desire for enhanced opportunities and benefits linked to tourism in the area. As the situation unfolds, both community leaders and operating managers like Caballero call for constructive dialogue and the potential for shared operations to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for tourism in Machu Picchu.
