Peru sees 650,000 tourists visiting Machu Picchu in 2011

The National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) has predicted that 650,000 tourists, mostly foreigners, will visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in 2011.

Suitable weather conditions and the 100th anniversary of Hiram Bingham's scientific discovery of the Inca archeological treasure will contribute to a 35 percent increase in visits compared to this year.

In January 2010, heavy rain caused flooding which buried or washed away roads and railways leading to Machu Picchu. The decline in tourism affected local businesses including hotels, restaurants, transport companies and craft markets.

According to Canatur President Carlos Canales, the number of visitors dropped from 618,000 in 2008 and 583,000 in 2009 to 440,000 this year.

"The unexpected events that occur early this year were the result of climate change, and according to experts, it would be very difficult that such incidents will happen again," Canales told Andina.

He pointed out that 70 percent of the total number of visitors will come from the United States and Latin American countries.