Tourism Turns Troublesome

People like to see things and experience newness. Traveling to a different country and seeing something that for many was once only accessible via tv and before that books. As this article points out, tourism is booming and that is becoming a problem. Some of the world’s most popular sites are completely overrun with camera toting and cell phone selfie grabbing throngs of all ages. Mount Everest can now have longer lines that Best Buy on Black Friday.

Having worked in tourism for a number of years in Peru and still follow the industry closely, I can speak to this first hand. When I was first in Peru in the early 2000s, the remnants of Peru’s Shining Path rebellion was finally starting to fade and visitors to Cusco and Machu Picchu were starting to dramatically increase. What started then has not shown signs of slowing.

Visitors to Machu Picchu went from just over 500k to over 1.5 million in just over a decade. This has taken place even as the cost and complexity (tickets, reservations, permits, etc.) to visit one of the world’s most famous destinations has increased.

As the article points out, congestion pricing is a way to go to help alleviate the stress the world tourism boom is placing on these world wonders. However, as is the case with Machu Picchu, the market is doing what it can to tame some of the demand. Increasing costs and regulating the number of visitors is one way to handle this surge but one need to be wary as many will say that these world wonders are for all to enjoy and should not become only accessible by the well to do.

How Big of a Problem is Nudity for Peru Tourism?

How Big of a Problem is Nudity for Peru Tourism?

Recently, a lot has been made of the rash of nude tourists appearing on some of Peru’s most popular tourist destinations, such as Machu Picchu. This has lead local authorities to make sweeping promises to crack down on the problem. However, it would be hasty to classify this as a problem. How much damage can these tourists do just by stripping down and taking a picture or two sans clothes. As the article by W. Alejandro Sanchez states, the Peruvian authorities have reacted with a heavy hand by detaining the tourists and deleting memory cards from cameras. What they are most likely to cause from all of this is increase the publicity and even increase the probability for even more nude tourists as who doesn’t like to challenge authority? Right. 

Maybe, as a friend of mine who works in the tourism industry in Peru points out, the authorities would be better served to install some type of restroom facilities at Machu Picchu. On a list of things that the Peruvian tourist sector needs to improve I would say that eliminating the nudity problem would not even make the list.

Instead of cracking down on tourists in their natural state they would be better served to improve the facilities, increase safety for the tourists, and improve the infrastructure that would allow both domestic and international visitors to better enjoy some of Peru’s amazing attractions.