A view of the archaeological site of Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru.

Gulf Today Report

The UNESCO declared World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu, has reopened to tourists on Sunday after a long lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The crown of Peru’s tourists site will now restrict the number of visitors for safety reasons as mentioned by the authorities.

 The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu reopened on Sunday with a light ceremony.

Only around 675 tourists will be able to visit the site per day.

A ceremony of gratitude with lights and colours was held on Sunday during the opening of the site to visitors.

"Today, Machu Picchu opens. It opens with (health and safety) protocols, it opens to say that we are reactivating ourselves but with responsibility and great prudence, because we see everything happening in the world" with the pandemic, Foreign Trade and tourism Minister Rocio Barrios said in a speech.

 Tourists visit the site after the official reopening.

The first train of tourists had arrived on Sunday morning at Machu Picchu Pueblo, the village closest to the citadel, after a 90-minute journey along the Urubamba River from the ancient Inca village of Ollantaytambo.

Opening Machu Picchu to the world shows "that we Peruvians are resilient," Barrios told.

 Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Rocio Barrios speaks to the media.

The number of coronavirus cases has been steadily decreasing in Peru, and tourists will be expected to maintain social distancing.