About 970 municipalities in the country may apply to be part of this network of towns.
President Iván Duque reported this Tuesday in the framework of his television program Prevention and Action, that the Ministry of Commerce and
launched the program ‘Peoples that fall in love’, an initiative to promote regional tourism through tourist destinations that traditionally have not been protagonists but they have a singular appeal that makes them unique.
About 970 municipalities in the country will be able to apply to be part of this network of towns that will be promoted in different events of the National Government and the sector.
It is an initiative with which the National Government wants to make visible the destinations that have special and unique characteristics, but that have not been protagonists in the national tourism agenda, in order to strengthen the sector in the regions, generate employment, develop infrastructure and preservation of local culture and traditions.
The program will highlight the natural, architectural, gastronomic, historical, artisan and folk attractions that make each destination unique, which becomes an opportunity for hundreds of municipalities in Colombia to promote tourism as an axis of sustainable development and belong to a Outstanding network of towns that will be promoted in the different events of the National Government and the sector.
“Colombia, without a doubt, totally falls in love. All its cities and municipalities have something characteristic that makes them special places. Through ‘Peoples that fall in love’, that is precisely what we want to achieve, to make visible these municipalities that, perhaps are not so well known, but that have much to show. We suggest that they see in this program support for the promotion of their destinations, and that is why I invite the mayors of the country to register their municipalities and thus increase their tourism potential “, commented the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, José Manuel Restrepo.
The application of the municipality must be made by the local president, who must send to the email [email protected] a presentation form and the justification of his intention to be part of this initiative, also attaching the documents that are published in the website of the National Tourism Fund (Fontur). For this process the mayors will have the advice and accompaniment of the regional managers of Fontur.
The characteristics that municipalities that wish to be a ‘People that fall in love’ must meet are:
– Have a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants at the time of application.
– Have a clear inventory of tourist attractions.
– Number of contributors to parafiscal contribution according to the list of contributors of Fontur.
– Projection of the tourism sector in a local development plan.
– Have an active presence on social networks.
– Have a sustainable vocation.
– Handmade product characteristic of the municipality and recognized nationally.
– Gastronomic product characteristic of the municipality and recognized nationally.
– Folklore event of the municipality.
– Outstanding natural attractions at the national or departmental level.
– Historical, religious, myth, legend or place relevant to the country.
– Have an architectural and aesthetic harmony.
“In Colombia we have about 970 potential municipalities that will be able to apply for‘ Peoples that fall in love. ” We invite the mayors to fill the requirements and participate so that their municipalities are part of this program and can belong to this network of towns that will benefit in terms of promotion, competitiveness and tourism infrastructure, “said Raquel Garavito, president of the National Fund for Tourism (Fontur).
