Last month, at least 900 tourists were left stranded near the ancient Inca citadel when PeruRail suspended services following demonstrations.

Residents blocked the railway line with rocks and logs in protest at the government’s handling of transport concessions linked to tourist buses.

The dispute centres on the replacement of bus operator Consettur, whose concession expired earlier this year. Protesters have accused authorities of failing to ensure transparency and fairness in the process of appointing new operators.

In the wake of the disruption, the New 7 Wonders of the World organisation issued a statement warning that Machu Picchu "is not complying with the standards expected from one of the New 7 Wonders of the World". The group said continued instability was damaging the visitor experience and risked undermining the site’s global reputation.

Jean-Paul de la Fuente, director of the New 7 Wonders Foundation, said: "These factors could continue to affect Peru’s image due to the poor experience of visitors, and consequently compromise the credibility of Machu Picchu as one of our New 7 Wonders of the World."

He added that if the "high pressure from tourism" is not addressed quickly, there is a danger of lasting harm to the site’s "historical heritage".

Machu Picchu was designated a New Wonder of the World in 2007, alongside landmarks including the Colosseum in Rome and Petra in Jordan. It has also been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.

In response to the criticism, Peru’s Ministry of Culture emphasised that UNESCO is the "only competent body to promote, throughout the world, the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage".

The ministry stressed that Machu Picchu is not currently on UNESCO's 'World Heritage in Danger' list and that the conservation of the citadel "is not being violated".