Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-jl) (Peru 21) -- The ancient Incan site of Machu Picchu is becoming one of the top cultural destinations in the world. It's wonderful buildings and structures located in such a remote location have left visitors awestruck with each passing generation. However, officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are worried that excessive growth in visitor rates could harm the mystic citadel.

Along with Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, and the Mayan ruins of Copan in Honduras have been identified for their fragile nature.

"The future of the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, and the Copan Ruins concern us very much," affirmed Francesco Bandarin, UNESCO's Heritage Center Director at the conclusion of the Periodic Seminar on Latin American Heritage Sites which concluded on Wednesday in Santiago, Chile.

According to Bandarin, all three sites are endanger of the effects of accelerated tourism growth and the lack of control in the tourism industry.

"Tourism is a recurring subject. It is the biggest global industry, but it sometimes becomes a threat to the sites that are protected by UNESCO," commented Bandarin.

According to Bandarin, Machu Picchu's greatest enemy is the increasing evidence of urban growth on the outskirts of the Incan city.

"The archaeological portion of Machu Picchu is still nicely intact. However, what is happening there, because of the pressure applied by the tourism industry, is the chaotic and out of control development in the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the base of the mountain. The historic landscape is being compromised," indicated the UNESCO official.