The Inka road system in transition

Qhapaq Ñan refers to a network of roads built during the time of the great inca empire. Almost 55,000 kilometers long, this net of roads extended across the entire geographical area of the Inca (from todays South Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile). Qhapaq Ñan is a constructional masterpiece and its marks are still visible today. Although largely destroyed the Qhapaq Ñan has still an important functional and symbolic meaning to the Andean people. Especially in the far-flunged mountain regions of Peru, where people are living in abject poverty, there are still well-preserved parts of the Qhapaq Ñan (seriously threatened with destruction), that could be part of a sustainable use for tourism and contribute to the economic development of these structurally weak areas. Outside the capital Lima and the province of Cuzco where the famous Inca Trail as well as the UNESCO World heritage site Machu Pichu is located there is no significant touristic infrastructure in Peru so far. Andean people in these mountain regions are organized in traditional village communities and struggle for their daily survival practicing substance level agriculture. To make Tourism a source of economic value creation for the Andean people, a well thought concept focussing the balance between use and protection of these sensitive areas, will be essential. Furthermore a strategy for valorisation of this unique landscape and culture is needed that reflects criteria of sustainable economic activities. Only few of the approximately 55,000 kilometers of the entire Inca road system are used as trekking routes so far. The best-known is for sure the Inca Trail, which leads you in a four- day hike through the region of Cuszco and ends at the Inca-ruins of Machu Picchu. Today this route is not only South Americas most famous trekking-route but it turned to be one of the most popular hiking routes worldwide. In this study the Inca Trail has been selected as an example and as a starting point for considerations of touristic use of other parts and areas along the Qhapaq Ñan. The central theme oft this study The thesis, that guides this study is, that selected parts of the Qhapaq Ñan in Peru could be used for touristic use, presuming tourism follows sustainable criteria. Not mass tourism - as we see it on the Inca Trail - but rather innovative programs, operated by the local communities could be a successful way. The vision is to start a process that leads to a positive economic and social development in the underdeveloped Andean areas of Peru, a redevelopment and future protection of the cultural heritage of the Inca and finally the valorisation of these unique cultural assets combined with a novel and contemporary symbolic meaning for the ancient Inca roads. Field studies in Peru (2007, 2011) focused on parts of the Inka road system which are nominated for UNESCO Wolrd heritage site in 2014.