Tourists were left stranded this week in Peru as protests erupted following the introduction of an electronic rail ticketing system on the train line that leads to Machu Picchu.
Tensions ran high as protesters said they believe the new ticket sales platform will hurt the local economy and small businesses, as it gives one government-approved private company authorisation to administrate all sales.
However, after more than a week of disruption to rail services, authorities and protesters were able to come to an agreement that allows for a transition period to the new platform.
PeruRail said on Wednesday that a partial train service had restarted and regular service would recommence on Thursday. The train goes from the city of Cusco to Aguas Calientes, a town near the Unesco-protected ancient Incan ruins.
Those responsible for the site's preservation have warned about overcrowding due to tickets being oversold. The centralised platform is designed to control visitor numbers as tourism rebounds post-pandemic.
“We have to move forward to reactivate our economy,” Leslie Urteaga, Peru’s Minister of Culture, told a local radio station.
Yet over the past week, the hotels and restaurants that surround Peru's most notable tourist attraction were almost deserted as no one could reach the site.
The ancient Incan site is Peru’s top tourist destination, with about 3,800 people visiting per day.
Over the past few years, Machu Picchu has been a source of controversy due to overtourism, political protests and erosion.
In January last year, the Incan site closed “indefinitely” due to continuing violent protests against the country's new president, only to reopen in February. At the time, local tour operator Manuel Sanchez-Palacios told The National that the effects of such closures are felt for months within the industry.
“This includes everyone from the local artisan who depends on selling handmade goods to tourists, to the tour guides, and then larger agencies like us,” he said.
In September, authorities also shut parts of the ancient site due to erosion of certain stone structures that make up the Incan citadel.
The country's culture ministry suspended visits to the Temple of the Condor and the Temple of the Sun, as well as the “Intihuatana” – a carved stone structure that was sacred to the Incas.
“The damage is irreversible. We have to protect our heritage,” said Maritza Rosa Candia, the ministry's delegate in the town of Cusco.
The citadel, 130km from Cusco, was built in the 15th century as a religious sanctuary for the Incas at an altitude of 2,490 metres.
Machu Picchu was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 1983 and is described by the awarding body as “probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height”.
However, Unesco has also highlighted the challenges faced by the site, which it says requires more stringent management. It states: “The strongly increasing number of visitors to the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu must be matched by an adequate management regulating access, diversifying the offer and efforts to fully understand and minimise impacts. A larger appropriate and increasing share of the significant tourism revenue could be reinvested in planning and management.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
RESULT
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
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Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
