Peru's Machu Picchu faces the unprecedented threat of losing its designation as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, 18 years after winning the global title.

The Swiss-based New7Wonders foundation, which organised the 2007 contest, has issued a formal warning that the country's most famous heritage site no longer meets required preservation and management standards to retain its place on the list. Such a warning lays bare the fragility of Peru's tourism sector and exposes deep institutional failures that have damaged the sanctuary's international standing.

The distinction was secured on 7 July 2007, when a hundred million people cast votes online and by text message for the initiative promoted by Bernard Weber, a Swiss-Canadian filmmaker and adventurer. With strong campaigning by the Peruvian government under then-president Alan García, Machu Picchu joined landmarks such as the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in the new global ranking. The accolade quickly became a marketing tool that boosted Peru’s tourism revenues, cementing the Inca citadel as the country’s primary draw.

Visitor numbers surged from just over 400,000 in the first half of 2007 to nearly 860,000 in the same period of 2025, according to figures from Peru’s Ministry of Culture. The year 2019 remains the peak with almost 889,000 visitors in seven months. Machu Picchu has since functioned as the “anchor” of Peru’s southern tourism circuit, driving activity across Cusco, Puno, Arequipa and Madre de Dios.

That success is now under threat. On September 13, New7Wonders issued a statement pointing to “uncontrolled mass tourism, irregular ticketing practices, rising prices, deficient transport services and persistent social conflicts” as reasons for reconsidering Machu Picchu’s status. No other site among the seven wonders has faced such an alert. UNESCO has also repeatedly noted that visitor levels exceed approved limits and raised concerns over weak governance structures.

Tourist access, meanwhile, has become increasingly unreliable. In January 2024, protests erupted after the Ministry of Culture outsourced ticket sales to the private firm Joinnus. Demonstrations forced the company to withdraw, but the replacement system has failed to resolve bottlenecks, according to El País. More recently, rail services, the only efficient way to reach Aguas Calientes, were suspended amid demonstrations, leaving thousands stranded. Damaged tracks and blockades forced tourists to seek alternative routes, often walking hours along the hydroelectric trail under unsafe conditions.

At the heart of the crisis is the concession for bus services between Aguas Calientes and the citadel. For three decades, Consettur operated the route exclusively. When its contract expired this week, the Cusco regional government authorised San Antonio de Torontoy as a temporary operator. The decision sparked disputes between rival groups, accusations of corruption and violent protests. Negotiations led by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) have so far produced only short-term arrangements, while broader tensions remain unresolved.

The latest demonstrations turned violent, with protesters blocking access roads and clashing with police. Rail services were paralysed for several days, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in Aguas Calientes. Many were forced to sleep on the station floor or pay inflated prices for food and accommodation. According to testimonies collected by local media, some travellers had to walk more than 10 kilometres along the hydroelectric trail to reach buses, while others described feeling “abandoned” by authorities. Several distressed visitors vowed never to return to Peru under such conditions.

The turmoil is already hitting Peru’s economy hard. The Cusco Chamber of Commerce estimates losses of between PEN50mn and PEN55mn ($15.8mn) in 2025 alone due to cancellations and reduced demand. Claudia Medina of the Peruvian Association of Inbound Tourism Operators (Apotur) told El Comercio that foreign markets in Europe, Asia and North America are beginning to remove Peru from travel packages, preferring destinations that guarantee more reliability. Each day of unrest is calculated to cost the region up to $3mn in lost revenue, with artisans, guides and small businesses among the hardest hit, Infobae reported.

Cusco’s economy is heavily dependent on the sector: 60% of its output is tied to tourism and 20% of its regional GDP relies directly on visitors to Machu Picchu. Experts warn that a sustained decline of 20–30% in arrivals could erase thousands of jobs, with Apotur estimating that the loss of the New7Wonders title could cut inbound tourism by nearly a third, equivalent to over $1bn annually.

Despite the severity of the warning, the national government has played down the threat. The Ministry of Culture argued that only UNESCO has the mandate to classify world heritage, noting that Machu Picchu is not currently on its official “World Heritage in Danger” list. This stance suggests officials give little weight to New7Wonders, even though the accolade has been central to Peru’s tourism marketing for nearly two decades.

Critics argue that the crisis reflects a broader governance failure. Fernando Santoyo, president of the Cusco Chamber of Commerce, described it as a “crisis of institutionalism,” worsened by fragmented management and competing interests over concessions, El Comercio noted. Industry groups, including Canatur, Apotur and Apavi,t have jointly demanded the site be declared a matter of national critical infrastructure, with proposals to create an autonomous authority under the prime minister’s office. They also call for full digitalisation of ticketing, better integration of transport and immediate emergency measures to restore tourist confidence.

Since UNESCO designated Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site in 1983, the citadel has stood as both a cultural emblem and an economic engine. Its elevation in 2007 to one of the New Seven Wonders added a global marketing edge, translating into sustained growth in foreign arrivals. The potential loss of that recognition would mark not only a symbolic setback but a tangible economic blow, weakening Peru’s competitive position in the international tourism market.