Summer School 2025

 

ICTs and the Challenges of “Overtourism”: Exploring the Case of Machupicchu

 

21 – 28 August, 2025

Lima – Sacred Valley – Cusco (Peru)

 

 

 

The 2025 edition of USI UNESCO Chair Summer School is organized in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in Anthropology of Health, Biosphere and Healing Systems of the University of Genoa (Italy), the  UNESCO Chair on City, Landscape and Heritage of the University of Lima (Peru), and is supported by the UNESCO office in Lima.

Through the research efforts of three UNESCO Chairs and a transdisciplinary approach, participants will engage with key topics such as heritage conservation and management, sustainable interventions to address overtourism affecting the site of Machupicchu, the intangible heritage of Andean ethnomedicine and textile production. Additionally, they will examine how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can support and enhance these processes.

The program integrates theoretical lessons with immersive field experiences in Lima, Machupicchu, and the Sacred Valley of Cusco. Specialists from the Ministry of Culture and Environment, who manage the Park, along with experts in tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and digital media will share a week of activities aimed at developing actionable proposals to address the site’s challenges while enhancing its heritage values and dissemination potential.

Leveraging on participants’ different backgrounds, the school will generate a positive dynamic interaction between the territory, heritage managers, UNESCO, and travelers.

Why to participate

• Experience Machupicchu like never before, guided by the three former site managers who made the recent history of Machupicchu.
• Dive into a traditional textile handicraft experience.
• Explore alternative Inca paths and sacred archeological sites within Machupicchu.
• Team up with three UNESCO Chairs to address emerging tourism issues.

Goals

• Co-develop actionable proposals to mitigate overtourism at Machupicchu.
• Deepen the understanding of sustainability practices at UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Strengthen transdisciplinary networks among global specialists in the field of tourism and heritage.

Addressed topics

• Overtourism vs. Responsible Tourism: Strategies to ensure sustainability at all levels: environmental, social, economic and cultural (e.g.: exploring alternative access routes to and through the park of Machupicchu; combining ticketing with learning experiences; enriching and differentiating existing narratives).
• ICTs in Tourism & Heritage Management: Leveraging mixed reality models and applications for heritage conservation and communication (e.g.: Google Arts & Culture, the ‘ABCDE’ Framework, UNESCO World Heritage Information Kit, etc.).
• Integrating Heritage and Sustainability: Exploring the integration of cultural preservation and communication with sustainable development strategies, also contributing to the integrated Waste Management Project by UNESCO Peru.
• Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – Ethnomedicine and Textile Production: Investigating traditional practices and their role in community resilience and health: the role of intangible heritage as a unifying factor.
• Participatory Design: Collaborating with Quechua communities in conservation and sustainable tourism projects.
• Priorization of Action Plans: Contribute to shaping the future of Machupicchu by linking research, conservation, and tourism in a shared plan to protect and maintain its cultural and natural heritage.

Intended Audience

The Summer School is aimed at researchers, professionals, and students (Master and PhD) interested in a transdisciplinary approach to heritage, tourism and ICTs with a focus on sustainability and intercultural dialogue.

Program overview

Day 1: Thursday, 21st August 
International arrival until early afternoon
Ca. 18:00 welcome event
Hotel in Lima

Day 2: Friday, 22nd August
Travel to Cusco (by plane) and then to the Sacred Valley (by bus)
Hotel in Urubamba

Day 3: Saturday, 23rd August
Travel to Machupicchu – visit of the “Llaqta” (main sacred Inca archeological site / Llaqta)
Hotel in Machupicchu Pueblo (former Aguas Caliente)

Day 4: Sunday, 24h August
Hike along an Inca route to reach sacred sites within the forests of Machupicchu
Hotel in Machupicchu Pueblo (former Aguas Caliente)

Day 5: Monday, 25th August
Visit Hampi Muya, Machupicchu’s medicinal garden
Visit Ollantaytambo Archeological Site
Hotel in Urubamba

Day 6: Tuesday, 26th August
Visit and workshop at Chinchero Textile Museum
Hotel in Urubamba

Day 7: Wednesday, 27th August
Travel to Cusco – visit Sacsayhuaman, an impressive archaeological site of the Inca civilization, and meet with the Tourist Chamber of Cusco
Hotel in Cusco

Day 8: Thursday, 28th August
Travel to Lima (by plane), prepare for the final event
Final event with presentations
Hotel in Lima

Day 9: Friday, 29th August
International departures (on your own)

The program can always be subject to change.

Organizers

• Adine Gavazzi – UNESCO Chair in Anthropology of Health, Biosphere and Healing Systems of the University of Genoa (Italy)
• Lorenzo Cantoni – Università della Svizzera italiana – USI, chair-holder of USI UNESCO Chair
• Anna Picco-Schwendener – Università della Svizzera italiana – USI, coordinator of USI UNESCO Chair
• Verónica Napuri, Travel Designer, Tucano Peru Travel Boutique

Speakers

Academic speakers together with professionals of the tourism and heritage sector as well as representatives of governmental institutions. Among them Fernando Astete, Jose Bastante and RéguloFranco Jordán, who are the former directors of the Archaeological Park of Machupicchu. A detailed list of speakers will be provided later on.

Language

The Summer School will be conducted in English, with some activities held in Spanish. Translations will be provided.

Price

1’990 USD (not refundable)

What is included: Hotel accomodation in double rooms (limited amount of single rooms are available for a supplement of 280$) for eight nights, two flights from Lima to Cusco and back, all meals, transportations and entrances to attractions;

What is NOT included: Travel from/to your home destination to Lima; transfer from Lima airport to hotel on arrival day and transfer from hotel to Lima airport on departure day, extras in hotels, alcoholic drinks, laundary services;

The logistic part of this summer school is organized by Tucano Peru Travel Boutique, Av San Martin 140, Interior 104 Barranco, Lima, Peru.

How to apply

Send your CV and motivation letter to unescochair@usi.ch by 4^th May, 2025.

Be aware that there is only a limited number of places available.

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