A UNESCO committee will visit Cusco in January 2012 to verify the preservation, conservation and improvements made in Machu Picchu, following recommendations that had been made by the organization.

The visit was announced on Wednesday by David Ugarte, Cusco’s Regional Director of Culture, who said the UNESCO working group, would review progress on the problems the archaeological site is facing.

Among the problems, he said, were the excessive growth of the town of Aguas Calientes in Machu Picchu, located at the bottom of the citadel; was well as: accessibility, construction of the Santa Maria - Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric; and the implementation of UNESCO’s Master Plan.

"We hope that Unesco has is objective when they look at what is being worked on - that there are efforts to carry this forward. There is a team whose task is to preserve and conserve the archaeological park," he said according to Andina.

Ugarte said previous administrations had not taken issues like public safety and emergency plans that deal with heavy rain, into consideration, which were part of the 2005 master plan.

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