Machu Picchu and the Seven Wonders of the World

This weekend Peru's famed 'lost city of the Inca's' - Machu Picchu - was selected as one of the "new" seven wonders of the world. Having been there once or twice myself, I have to admit, it is a majestic thing to experience.

For months, the Peruvian government has backed a huge publicity campaign urging people to vote for the ruins in the contest - essentially making it an issue of Peruvian patriotism. But why?

Conservation of the site has been a key concern of UNESCO for several years now. This was illustrated recently when a bridge was built allowing a new route of access causing an uproar here in Peru. The problem, critics argued, is that it would allow too many visitors access to the ruin thereby endangering it.

The bottom line is money. There are more than 300,000 people visiting Machu Picchu each year boosting the country's economy by more than $40 million. And Peru is shooting to see that number increase.

Take a look at what has happened with prices to enter the site. It currently costs foreign visitors $40 for a one-time entry to the site – double the cost from just last year. That is expected to go up to $60 by the end of this year and could be as much as $100 soon. And you better believe the Peruvian government will use the excuse of increased visitors to the site as a reason to hike up the prices even further.

The issue of the bridge is less about the access to the ruins than the profitability of the train from Cusco which, currently, is the only access to the site. Bermuda-based Orient Express Hotels Ltd. has held tight control of the monopoly on transportation to Machu Picchu since 1999. Ticket prices have skyrocketed with demand. The four-hour ride will run you between $76 and as much as $450.

So don't let all the glitz poured into "7 Wonders" campaign distract you, the whole thing was nothing but a publicity stunt and, as UNESCO pointed out, completely meaningless. As the Independent newspaper in the UK pointed out the polling arrangement of the contest were flawed to the point that the Eurovision Song Contest looked like and objective competition.

The future of these "wonders" will probably be better served if they are viewed as the historic masterpieces they actually are rather than an opportunity to make a quick buck, which seems to be the current fashion.

: : UPDATE 13/07 : : Global Voices has posted a collection of Peruvian Bloggers entries on the selection of Machu Picchu to the "7 Wonders" list.


Find out more about Peru, South America and my varied interests over on Klephblog.

Technorati Tags: Peru, Machu Picchu, 7 Wonders, UNESCO