Photo: Caño Cristales in La Macarena has been called “The Liquid Rainbow,” and even “The Most Beautiful River in the World,” due to the aquatic plants that come to life for a few months every year.

Medals were handed out on September 22 at the 18th Regional Meeting of Tourism Authorities in the following categories: tourism governance, tourism quality, good practices in social tourism, and innovation and digital transformation.

The Winners

Tourism Governance

• Mayor’s Office of La Macarena (Meta)

Tourist Quality

• EXYTURES
• Lagos Club Comfatolima Recreation and Vacation Center

Good Practices in Social Tourism

• Santa Rosa de Cabal (Risaralda)
• Tambo (Cauca) Association of Tourism, Rural Development, and Culture
• Universidad Autónoma de Occidente
• Parque Jaime Duque

Innovation and Digital Transformation

• Governor’s Office of Antioquia
• Vivamos el Campo S.A.S.
• 5ta Saroco
• Posada Kauai S.A.S.

In addition to these primary categories, four honorary medals were also handed out to Gustavo Adolfo Toro Velásquez, Rafael Eduardo Avella Bonilla, Diana García, and CaminanTr3s.

Speaking on the achievements of all the recipients, Arturo Bravo, vice minister of tourism, said at the awards ceremony that “they position Colombia, the country of beauty, on the world map of tourism,” said

He added that, “these leaders deserve to be recognized for their special and distinguished services to tourism in the country because their daily work they promote economic justice for communities, territories and ecosystems.”

The winners were selected from more than 120 nominees submitted to MinCIT by the public. Industry companies, tourist agencies, academic institutions, and public organizations are all eligible for the medal.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Maria Ximena Lombana; the president of Fontur, Irvin Pérez and the Secretary of Tourism of Valle del Cauca, Julián Franco, were present to welcome the first 25 participating municipalities in Colombia

In Colombia, “puebleando,” or small-town tourism is a popular pastime for both Colombians and foreigners.

200 towns applied for funding to promote myriad fairs and parties, handicraft products, gastronomy, natural attractions and architectural harmony. The evaluation committee was made up of representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Fontur and experts in gastronomy, music, culture and the environment.

‘Pueblos que Enamoran’ is a strategy of the National government to highlight destinations that have special and unique characteristics but that have not been major players in the national tourism marketplace.

The initiative seeks to position the destinations as places with unique history, culture, natural and gastronomic wealth, supporting economic reactivation and growth.

“This is an opportunity for the municipalities of Colombia to promote tourism as an axis of sustainable development and integrate into an outstanding network of towns that will give them greater visibility through national promotion campaigns, which seek their positioning as unique places,” said Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, María Ximena Lombana.

The president of Fontur, Irvin Pérez, explained that “the intervention in each of these Pueblos que Enamoran, is part of the adaptation of the territories as a development and growth strategy promoted by Fontur. We seek to generate appropriation and sense of belonging of the same communities and their environment; in such a way that what is felt is transmitted through small actions that achieve change and transformation. The communities of these municipalities and their artistic contribution, today contribute to the tourist growth that these territories will have”.

The selected municipalities

The following villages were selected by the jury for their unique contributions in the areas of architecture, handicrafts, folklore, gastronomy, history and nature. In total, 25 municipalities from 21 departments were selected.

They are:

• Carolina del Príncipe (Antioquia).
• Puerto Colombia (Atlantico).
• San Jacinto (Bolivar).
• El Cocuy and Iza (Boyacá).
• Marulanda (Caldas).
• Guapi (Cauca).
• Maní (Casanare).
• Pueblo Bello (Cesar).
• Nuquí (Chocó).
• San Pelayo and Tuchín (Córdoba).
• Choachí and Tenjo (Cundinamarca).
• Gigante and San Agustín (Huila).
• San Juan del Cesar (La Guajira).
• La Macarena (Meta).
• Sandoná (Nariño).
• Villagarzón (Putumayo).
• Filandia (Quindío).
• Marseille (Risaralda).
• Curití (Santander).
• San Sebastian de Mariquita (Tolima)
• Geneva (Valle del Cauca).

Art and color

 As part of the initiative, the “People who fall in love with Art and Color” art project supported by Pintuco Foundation was unveiled, which allocates $500 million pesos for the beautification of facades and tourist infrastructure. Pintuco is a major brand of paint and coatings in Colombia and other countries.

According to Miguel Ayala, director of the Pintuco Foundation, the initiative “is one of the biggest challenges we have taken on from the Pintuco Foundation. It is a project that has allowed us to travel the country from north to south, bringing color to 25 municipalities with inhabitants who have a great commitment and an immense will to move forward. In each of these territories we have trained painters, which will open doors for new professional opportunities, and, through art and color, we have worked with the community to generate spaces for social transformation.”

Photo courtesy MinCIT

Before a group of social leaders from the Montes de María region, the delegate of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the UN Verification Mission, Social Pastoral, the Mapp/OAS, the Kroc Institute, the Capaz Institute and the Presidential Council for Human Rights, the director of the Investigation and Accusation Unit (UIA) of the JEP, Giovanni Álvarez, presented the details of the new report.

The first alert indicates that in 100 municipalities of Colombia the authority of the state is collapsing in a dangerous way. Among municipalities facing peril, Álvarez referred to Maicao, Segovia, Ituango, Tibú, Ocaña, El Tarra, Jamundí, Fortul, Puerto Leguízamo, Suárez, Buenos Aires, La Macarena, Montelíbano, Santander de Quilichao, Tumaco, Buenaventura and Argelia, as some of the municipalities where the situation is more serious.

The second alert brings attention to the fact that “Colombia is experiencing a phase of reorganization of historical nuclei of paramilitarism: the Clan del Golfo and new groups that claim the acronyms of the AUC and the BCB have taken over 1 in 4 municipalities, and show significant activity in subregions such as Urabá Antioquia, Bajo Atrato, Alto Sinú, the southern region of the  Bolívar department, Sierra Nevada, the southern region of Cesar department, Risaralda and the north of Valle del Cauca (La Virginia-Cartago), the Middle-Magdalena (river) region, Antioquia, Caldas and Santander departments.

The JEP, the Truth Commission and the UBPD are exploring ways to guarantee the non-repetition of the crimes suffered by Colombians during 60 years of conflict.

Finally, Álvarez warned that the FARC-EP dissidents are the group of recidivists or peace process deserters that have grown the most in Colombia, constituting the main risk of victimization against those excombatants  who have laid down their weapons. In that sense, he said that “the simultaneous presence of the dissidents of ‘Gentil Duarte’ and the Second Marquetalia increases more than three times the probability of murders” of members of the extinct guerrilla groups.

Through the Unified Risk Monitoring Mechanism of the Integral System for Peace, which will issue periodic reports for the country and the competent authorities, both the JEP, the Truth Commission, and the UBPD, explore ways to guarantee the non-repetition of the crimes experienced by Colombians during 60 years of armed conflict.

During the event, which took place in San Jacinto (Bolivar), the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, the Truth Commission and the Search Unit for Persons Reported Missing, presented the tool that will serve as a compass to warn about the risks, publicize the atrocities of the conflict and for the State to take the necessary measures.

Through this public platform, the three entities work to have greater tools to mitigate the risks of Colombians who actively participate in the transitional justice model. According to the report, since the signing of the Peace Agreement, 326 former FARC-EP combatants and 1,026 social leaders have been killed. The death of each of them deprives the victims of realizing their rights to justice and full truth.

“This tool does not replace the very defense mechanisms that are at the head of the State,” warned Judge Eduardo Cifuentes, president of the JEP. In his opinion, it is necessary that “the other authorities take note of the alerts so that they adopt the corresponding measures,” he said after recalling that the System asked the Ombudsman’s Office to adopt an ombudsman resolution that draws up a roadmap to put an end to the crimes.

For his part, Father Francisco de Roux, president of the Truth Commission, called “for mayors to protect their people” since “what is at stake and our only reason for existing as institutions of the Integral System for Peace is the responsibility for life.”

On that same shore stood Nadia Pérez, spokeswoman for the Search Unit for Persons Reported Missing. “This system has allowed us to identify the risks to life and freedom for relatives, companions, information contributors, such as the signatories of the Peace Agreement. This allows us to identify the risks, contrast them with you in the territory to prevent and mitigate them.”

Based on the government website, visitors who have been in or transited through Colombia in the previous 10 days cannot enter the UK. British and Irish nationals, and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK arriving in the UK from Colombia will need to self-isolate with their households on their return.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office issued an advisory for British nationals against all but essential travel to the whole of Colombia based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks, and for security reasons the FCDO advised against travel to:

• the departments of Arauca and Guaviare (except their capital cities)
• the department of Chocó (except its capital Quibdó, the whale-watching towns of Nuquí and Bahía Solano, and the tourist site of Capurganá)
• the Ariari region of southern Meta (except the tourist site of Caño Cristales – if travelling to Caño Cristales, travel by air to and from the town of La Macarena with a reputable tour company)
• the South Pacific, Sanquianga and Telembi regions of Nariño
• the Western region of Cauca
• Buenaventura in the department of Valle del Cauca
• the Urabá and Bajo Cauca regions of Antioquia
• the region of Southern-Bolívar
• the region of Southern-Córdoba
• the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander
• Orito, San Miguel, Valle del Guamuez, Puerto Caicedo, Puerto Guzmán, Puerto Asis and Puerto Leguizamo in Putumayo
• Cartagena del Chairá, San Vicente del Caguan, Puerto Rico, El Doncello, Paujil and La Montañita in Caquetá
• the municipality of Puerto Carreño in Vichada, except the departmental capital
• within 5km of the Venezuelan border and within 5km of the Ecuadorian border, except for the border crossing on the Pan-American highway, at Ipiales.

Beginning 4am on January 15, 2021 visitors who have been in or transited through Colombia in the previous 10 days cannot enter the UK. British and Irish nationals, and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK arriving in the UK from Colombia will need to self-isolate with their households on their return. Click here for the latest guidance for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Following the December 20 announcement by the Colombian Government to restrict flights to and from the UK, travelers cannot enter Colombia if their journey started in the UK, but with some exceptions to this (see Entry requirements). Direct flights to and from London have been suspended until further notice.

Travel is subject to entry restrictions

Arrivals to Colombia are subject to mandatory entry requirements:

• For air travel into Colombia, a negative PCR test issued within 96 hours prior to boarding will be required for all passengers, including children.
• Travelers without a negative PCR test may be asked to complete a written form explaining why they were unable to get a test or the results in time prior to being allowed to board by the airline. Passengers will be required to take the test upon arrival and to self-isolate either for 14 days or until a negative test result is received
• Between 24 hours and 1 hour before departure, travelers must fill out the ‘Check-Mig’ form, available on the Migración Colombia website. The traveler will receive a confirmation email that must be presented upon arrival in Colombia. Travelers also will need to complete this form 24 hours before departure from Colombia.
• Travelers must not present a fever or respiratory symptoms associated with Covid-19 prior to boarding the aircraft.
• The use of a mask is mandatory for everyone over two years of age throughout the flight.
• Travelers must bring spare facemasks and follow the airline’s instructions on how regularly to change them during the flight.
• Travelers must stay in your assigned seat during the entire flight.
• If travelers develop any Covid-19 symptoms within 14 days of arriving in Colombia, they must inform the local health ministry representative, as well as the airlines booked or flown. Land and river borders are closed at least until January 16th.

See Entry requirements before planning travel.

UK Residents Preparing To Return to the UK

If a traveler wishes to return to the UK from overseas, he or she must:

• provide his or her journey and contact details before travel
• check if there are self-isolation requirements upon return

Read UK government advice on foreign travel during the coronavirus pandemic and sign up for email alerts for this travel advice.

When travelling to Colombia during the coronavirus pandemic, British nationals are advised to see the Coronavirus page for more information.

During the COVID-19 pandemic it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and verify coverage. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.

There have been large scale protests in recent months which could recur at any time. These demonstrations can be confrontational and may turn violent. A number of people have been killed and injured. Travelers should remain vigilant, avoid all demonstrations, and monitor local media for the latest information.

The UK government is of the opinion that “terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Colombia.” The security situation can change very quickly in many areas of the country. All travelers should pay close attention to warnings issued by the Colombian authorities.

Additional Information From The UK Government

Despite high levels of crime, most visits to Colombia are trouble-free. See Crime

For British abroad who need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. Consular support is limited in parts of Colombia where the British government advises against all but essential travel and areas where there is a limited state presence. When consular support is unavailable, the British Embassy will liaise with local authorities to request assistance.

To contact emergency services, call 123 (in Spanish).

UK health authorities have classified Colombia as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. For more information and advice, visit the website of the National Travel Health Network and Centre website.

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

The gang operated taxi services in La Macarena and Cerro de Montserrate in Colombia’s capital, areas frequented by foreign tourists. La Macarena is a historic neighborhood with many bohemian restaurants and nightlife options. El Cerro de Montserrat, or “Montserrat Hill” is a convent and tourist destination on a high bluff overlooking Bogotá. When tourists paid with credit or debit cards, the gang used electronic devices (skimmers) to steal their bank card information and then proceeded to empty the tourist’s bank accounts.

Gang members were captured with the help of ATM security cameras in Bogotá’s south side. All pled not guilty at their initial court hearings. Victims included Europeans, North Americans, Asians, and Mexicans.

At least 34 crimes were committed according to the Attorney General’s office, between November 2018 and April 2019, and the criminals were able to harvest over $500 million pesos in ill-gotten gains ($148,000 USD). Prosecutors say the culprits were captured with the criminal equipment enabling the crimes in their possession.

Those captured were:

1. Jhonatan Camilo Parra Garzón, alias Chatarra (Junk)
2. Santiago Vargas Pineda, alias Calvo (Bald)
3. Cristian Camilo Martínez Arbeláez, alias Gordo (Fat)
4. Cristian David González, alias Negro (Black)
5. Bernardo Martínez Arredondo, alias Pato (Duck)
6. Camilo Llanos Peña, alias Cachetes (Cheeks)
7. Luis Fernando Jaramillo, alias Cuñado (Brother in law)

The sustainability designation includes Colombia’s famous Caño Cristales river (above photo) and the Los Fundadores Park. The area meets a package of requirements that help promote best practices in environmental, sociocultural, and economic dimensions.

La Macarena joins 21 other municipalities with the designation, including the old walled city of Cartagena, La Candelaria (Bogotá’s historic center), Usiacurí, Mompox (Bolivar), and Villa de Leyva (Boyacá).

Guerrero invited regional entities such as municipalities to maintain their certifications, which can be revoked if the areas fail on any of several criteria. “Once they are certified, it becomes a challenge for all actors in the sector to maintain the criteria under which the category is granted with a validity of three years,” said Guerrero. In addition to the responsibility carried by the municipalities, the certifications also remind tourists of additional responsibilities of ethical behavior to minimize negative impact on the communities and environment.

According to Vice Minister Guerrero, the certification implies that all actors are committed to the improvement of services, products, and other activities focused on the development of tourism in these regions.

Caño Cristales river photo courtesy of MinCIT