Colombia’s coffee producing Quindio department is looking to make a splash in the tourism sector through the development of infrastructure and a strong campaign to attract investors.
Located in Colombia’s mountainous coffee region, Quindio department played host to around 550,000 tourists in 2012, according to a departmental spokesperson for tourism. According to Jerillee Mendoza Giraldo, head of tourism promotion for Quindio, there are also several ambitious ideas and projects designed to further bolster a tourist sector that has emerged as a productive source of income for the department.
“The installment of tourist signs, a coffee cultural landscape project aimed to structure this tourist feature and receive international promotion, a campaign to strengthen the number of investors, and a national tourism promotion project [are some of the current projects in the works],” Mendoza told Colombia Reports on Thursday.
Given the economic issues plaguing the coffee sector, it should come as no surprise that the department is looking to strengthen its tourist infrastructure.
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“Tourism is the most important sector for economic diversification of the department, but there has not been an official study of the sector to determine its economic impact on[economic] activity in the region,” said Mendoza.
Quindio Governor Sandra Paola Hurtado Palacio is likewise motivated to expand tourism. Earlier this week the governor organized a conference at the British embassy in Colombia’s capital of Bogota. The purpose of the conference was to attract interest in the department from foreign investors who would bring capital, employment and new economic opportunities to the region.
Quindio department is already fast becoming a hotbed of tourist activity. Whether it’s the quaint town of Salento, the Cocora Valley with its stunningly tall wax palms, or the glaciated volcanic peaks in Los Nevados National Park, Quindio clearly has plenty to offer. The area is also a mecca for outdoor sports enthusiasts, offering plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, and mountain climbing.
MORE: Salento and the charm of Colombia’s coffee region
Quindio
Sources
- Turismo del Quindio ofrece posibilidades a inversionistas europeos (Viaje por Colombia)
- Interview with Jerilee Mendoza Giraldo
