Machu Picchu faces potential loss of World Wonder status amid ongoing protests

Peru's Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is currently facing significant challenges due to management issues and ongoing protests. On September 17, 2025, the New7Wonders Foundation warned that the site could be removed from its prestigious list because of poor management practices, overtourism, and tensions among local communities. Protests have recently escalated, leading to blocked railway access, which stranded over 1,400 tourists and forced evacuations. These protests stem from dissatisfaction with the transportation concessions for access to the site, impacting local tourism significantly. Despite these issues, Peru's Ministry of Culture insists that Machu Picchu's preservation is not at risk and is not on UNESCO’s “World Heritage in Danger” list. The ministry highlighted the improvements made in visitor management during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held earlier in July. However, the challenges of managing such a popular tourist destination have led to a rocky visitor experience. The New7Wonders director Jean-Paul de la Fuente emphasized that urgent action is required to ensure the site's credibility and sustainability. Additionally, tourism trends show that from 2020 to 2024, Machu Picchu is projected to receive 5 million fewer visitors than expected, equating to a 25% decrease. This decline can be attributed to insufficient investment in infrastructure and connectivity, which has hurt job creation and created a social crisis in the Cusco region. Consequently, around 33,000 tourism-related jobs have been lost in the area, compounding the economic impact of the ongoing protests. The government has noted that cancellations of tour packages due to unrest could lead to financial losses of nearly $80 million by the end of the year. The protests are a representation of deeper-seated issues related to tourism management, conservation policies, and socio-economic concerns in the region. The situation at Machu Picchu reflects broader structural problems that require collaboration between different stakeholders to resolve effectively.