Machu Picchu in Peru. Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos / Unsplash
Machu Picchu in Peru. Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos / Unsplash
Machu Picchu in Peru. Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos / Unsplash
Machu Picchu in Peru. Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos / Unsplash

Machu Picchu tourism expert offers insight into challenges faced by ancient Incan site


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

Queues, chaos and complaints have plagued Machu Picchu in Peru this week, as tourists found themselves unable to enter the attraction and local residents protested against the government’s handling of ticket allocation.

Last weekend, overcrowding led authorities to temporarily halt the sale of tickets granting access to Peru’s most popular tourist site. Local residents are already angry that tickets to enter Machu Picchu are only being sold in the nearby city of Cusco, rather than on site.

Scenes at the site have since calmed and normal operations have resumed, but challenges remain as Peru tries to balance burgeoning tourist demand with the need to protect the site.

Machu Picchu currently has a maximum capacity of 4,044 visitors per day. This was raised from 3,044 last month to cater to demand, which has been increasing steadily since the Unesco World Heritage attraction reopened in October 2020.

An important technicality lies at the root of many of the current issues, says Manuel Sanchez Palacios of Inca Expert, a reputable travel company founded in Lima that specialises in boutique tours of Peru, and sister companies Peru for Less and Latin America for Less.

“Over the past weekend, numerous visitors arrived in Aguas Calientes with ticket reservations but no tickets, and therefore they were unable to enter the ancient Incan citadel,” he says.

A reservation is not enough to guarantee entry to the site — visitors must show proof of an actual ticket. “A promised ticket is different from a purchased ticket in hand,” says Palacios. New, stringent rules around the issuing of tickets mean that some unethical tour operators are not delivering on what they promise.

“New restrictions on purchasing and changing ticket information make reserving tours at Machu Picchu more difficult. For example, previously there were penalties that ranged from 10 per cent to 30 per cent for changing the entry date, time or ticket holder information.

“Now, however, only the passport number on a ticket can be changed, in case a tourist needs to renew their passport before visiting Machu Picchu, but only when all the previous ticket holder information remains the same.

“So my advice for visitors is the following: if you buy tickets from a tour operator online or in Peru, make sure they enter your information accurately and send you a confirmation of the purchased ticket before you travel. It is always helpful to look at online reviews for travel agencies as well.”

There are currently tickets available for entry to Machu Picchu, but they are limited and dependant on date. Palacios recommends tourists who are travelling independently check and make their purchases through the the official Peruvian government site, https://reservas.machupicchu.gob.pe/inicio.

Otherwise, visitors should make sure they are dealing with a reputable tour operator, or they may be setting themselves up for disappointment, he says. “Machu Picchu is an incredible destination that everyone deserves to visit. There is nothing like taking your first step into the archaeological site and seeing enormous, perfectly carved stones that fit like an ancient puzzle.

“It is a place that deserves to be shared and seen. I would like to see travel agencies and tour operators do a better job fulfilling their promise to acquire tickets quickly and accurately for their customers, ideally the day a customer books.

“Machu Picchu is what often makes the trip for tourists, and learning that the ticket promised was not purchased appropriately, or maybe not at all, can be heartbreaking, especially if you are turned away at the door.”

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SPECS

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Power: 235hp
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Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

RESULT

Fifth ODI, at Headingley

England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

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Australia

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Saudi Arabia

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South Korea

SPECS
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What is an FTO Designation?

FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes. 

It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.

Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.

Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.

Source: US Department of State

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Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
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What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

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It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

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The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

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HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

The bio

Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.

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What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW

Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
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Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
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Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
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Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
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Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

Updated: August 19, 2022, 2:37 PM`