Dozens of professional tourist guides organized a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday in the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu – Peru’s top tourist attraction – to protest a congressional bill designed to open up their profession to people who have not been formally trained as guides, reported daily El Comercio.
Of the 50 authorized guides in Machu Picchu, 40 took part in the rally.
Bill 28529 proposes to allow “anyone who has professional training and experience” to become a guide at Machu Picchu, in the ancient city of Cuzco, and at historical and archaeological sites throughout Peru.
On April 22, 2009, the guides obstructed the Cuzco-Machu Picchu railway, forcing PeruRail to temporarily suspend its service. They also restricted access to the Velasco Astete Airport.
