On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was elected one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. More than 100 million votes from around the world were cast in this first-ever global election. But now Peruvian authorities have closed the iconic tourist attraction amid ongoing protests that have left dozens of people dead since they began a month ago.
Cultural authorities in Cusco stated that “in view of the current social situation in which our region and the country are immersed, the closure of the Inca trail network and Machu Picchu has been ordered, as of 21 January and until further notice”.
Unrest was sparked in early December by the destitution and arrest of Castillo, Peru’s first president of humble, rural roots, following his widely condemned attempt to dissolve Congress to avoid an impeachment trial. Left-wing lawyer Dina Boluarte was sworn in on the same day, after serving as vice-president to Pedro Castillo.
This is not the first time one of the New 7 Wonders of the World is obliged to close its doors, Chichen Itza was also a target for protests recently. On January 2, peasants, artisans, and tour guides demanded the dismissal of Marco Antonio Santos Ramrez, the director of Chichén Itzá, whom they accused of discrimination, mistreatment, and attacking the Mayan culture. This was at the height of the Mayan communities of Pisté, Xcalakoop, and San Felipe Nuevo.
After ten days of protests, Mayan indigenous people from the communities in the municipality of Tinum, in the state of Yucatán, southeast Mexico, removed a roadblock on the highways leading to the Chichén Itzá archaeological zone. This was achieved after protesters reached an agreement with the representative of the federal government Andrés Peralta Rivera
The most popular archaeological region in Mexico stopped receiving about 80,000 domestic and international visitors during the blockade, according to data from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), resulting in significant economic losses.
The national governments of Mexico and Peru should ensure that all the stakeholders, local workers, public and business communities, original populations, and tourist visitors of the Wonders are positively involved and benefit in a way that respects and elevates the Wonder status. Once and after this is done, then the same governments should assure that these Wonders, the most important worldwide symbols of their nations, have a special legal status that suitably protects them against further protests.