Tourism management and sustainable development in world heritage sites. The case of Machu Picchu (Cuzco Peru)
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. This designation has transformed the region into a world famous tourist destination. In spite of the criticisms and recommendations of UNESCO, Machu Picchu presents serious management problems and chaotic tourism development. The aim of this article is to explore and discuss the consequences of tourism development and its contribution to the sustainable development of the region. Based on available statistical data from the official sources and unpublished studies of the Observatorio Turistico del Peru we proceed to a global analysis of tourism activity and its socioeconomic impact in the region. The data shows that tourism practices reproduce or deepen socioeconomic inequalities among the local population.