TOURISM TODAY
9
Events trek
International Congress of Tourist Cities
The Viceminister of Tourism, Sandra Howard Taylor, gave the lecture: Tourism, Engine of Development.
According to the lecture of Sandra Howard Taylor, Viceminister of Tourism of Colombia, 2016 was the year with the best rates in Colombia's tourism history: 3.092.000 foreing visitors, US 5.688 millions in income because of tourism, 1.823.931 new jobs in this sector, 56% of hotel occupancy and an increase in 48,56% of international air frequencies.
For Sandra Howard, the DNA of tourism has to be based on sustainability and it is also important to show positive competitiviness index. For these reason, the Viceminister of Tourism is pointing to four types of tourism: Nature Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Healh and Wellness Tourism and MICE Tourism.
Howard talked about the actions to offer asecure and responsible tourism. The specific actions for a secure tourism are
1.003 tourist police officers in 2017
and 600 polices officer have been trained in bilingualism.
Regarding responsible tourism, Howard talked about the campaigns against commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and the campaign Colombia Limpia, and also the prevention of illicit trafficking in protected species of flora and fauna and cultural property.
Howard also insisted on the importance of quality in tourism, that was the reason why she mentioned that Colombia has 56 Sectorial Technical Standards and 12 candidates beaches to obtain at least 5 Blue Flag certifications.
The Viceminister wants to improve the tourist infrastructure because is one of an important determinant of tourism development. Finally, regarding Cartagena de Indias, Howard said that it is one of the national destinations that reivents itself. A positive action!