Overall Tourism in Medellín Rises 26% As City Hall Works To Deter Sex Tourism & Detain Sex Offenders

Medellín’s City Hall released data from January to August 2024 showing a significant increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting the city.  According to the administration of Mayor Federico Gutierrez, Medellín welcomed 1,192,623 passengers through the José María Córdova Airport, compared to 2023, when the city received 950,743 tourists.

The City Hall also revealed that 95.6% of these trips were for tourism, while the remaining percentages were for business, events, or medical treatments. These figures have solidified Medellín’s position as the second most connected city in Colombia, with 5,452 monthly flights, and 65.9% of them are domestic flights.

However, Medellín continues to battle against sexual exploitation.

In September 2024, six establishments were temporarily closed due to irregularities. In 2024, the local administration carried out 97 inspections of establishments, 28 visits to commercial sites, and issued 25 temporary suspension orders. Between January and August, Medellín assisted 139 minors at risk of exploitation, with 59 of them entering legal processes for the restoration of their rights.

The City Hall extended curfews for minors in high-risk areas until December 2024. Manuel Villa Mejía, Secretary of Security, stated: “The number of reports has increased, and we want to emphasize that reporting these crimes is truly about protecting children; we urge the public to stay vigilant so that together, we can safeguard them.”

What is the protocol for handling sexual offenses?

Medellín has activated the phone line 324 574 3645 for reporting suspected cases of child sexual exploitation, which alerts a special response team. Additionally, the ‘Parceras’ helpline at 324 574 3647 is available as a support channel for victims of violence or sexual exploitation, where they can receive professional orientation.

As of September 23, 2024, which was marked as the International Day Against Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking, the City Hall reported that 139 minors have received support for cases of sexual violence in Medellín, with arrests for this crime increasing by 160%. Captain Jeyson Rodríguez, Head of the Childhood and Adolescence Division of the Metropolitan Police of Medellín, added: “We’ve received a total of 22,000 calls to the 123 line, compared to 13,271, specifically related to child and adolescent protection requests.”

Photo credit: City of Medellín.