Colombia offers “unlimited” possibilities for ecotourism, the country’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, said Saturday.
Santos made the announcement to emphasize the benefits ecotourism will bring to the region. His address came after the announcement of a new agreement the Colombian government made with UNESCO, which has declared the Colombian coffee regions as being a World Heritage Site.
“The blessing that UNESCO has given us, that considers this area as being a World Heritage Site is, like I said, a blessing and a great opportunity, but also brings with it a great responsibility. In matters of tourism, the potential is unlimited,” announced the president Saturday at a meeting at the Parque Nacional del Cafe.
Santos elaborated that ecotourism has become increasingly popular as tourists seek out new opportunities to bring them closer to areas of natural wonder, and that “the ideal area to do this type of tourism, is this, the coffee-cultivating zone of Colombia. Families can begin in Quindio, travel to Risaralda, and finish their journey in Caldas, riding bicycles and enjoying the quality and warmth of all of the beautiful people of the coffee zone.”
The president sustained that any world tourist can enjoy this rich experience, and “furthermore, they will be able to pay well for their travels to this area and invest a lot of money that can generate local employment,” Santos concluded.