Two-time Latin Grammy winner Fonseca was full of optimism at the launch of a Colombia tourism campaign in Times Square and refused to let the Boston marathon tragedies disturb his performance.
“What happened in Boston was very sad, but we cannot let terrorism stop us,” said Fonseca on Thursday at the launch of the 10-day “The Answer is Colombia” campaign.
The campaign is designed to project a positive image of Colombia and attract business and tourism to the country. The launch began with a short performance from the Colombian singer and there was reportedly a strong police presence at the event in the wake of Boston marathon explosions on Tuesday.
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Fonseca, who was joined by Colombian coffee icon, Juan Valdez, and other Colombian representatives, took the opportunity to send a hopeful message.
“Things like what we are doing today [the campaign presentation] allow us to see the positives, in spite of the circumstances,” said the Colombian popstar.
The singer said he was “privileged” to represent his country for such an important concert in New York’s world-famous Times Square and called the experience “incredible” and “unforgettable”.
“I feel very happy here in Times Square, where people from all over the world bear witness to this effort to show our Colombia,” Fonseca added.
For the next 9 days between 3PM and 5PM interactive billboards in Times Square will be showing videos of unique Colombian experiences that are up for grabs. Viewers are invited to compete for one of six experiences using an app on their smartphones or tablets and 27 participants will win a five-day, all expenses paid trip to Colombia to live out the experience.