Mayor Paicol, Aníbal Chavarro, in response to this wonderful news, indicated that “this contest is led by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, but it is the UN Worldwide. The first preselection has already been carried out where eight municipalities in Colombia were elected.”
Thus, the selection criteria by which they were guided for the contest included the uniqueness and representativeness of tourist attractions in the international market, the actions they carry out in social, environmental and economic sustainability, and the tourism infrastructure they have.
In this way, the eight Colombian municipalities selected were Puerto Nariño (Amazonas), Jardín (Antioquia), El Cocuy (Boyacá), Orocué (Casanare), Sesquilé (Cundinamarca), Paicol (Huila), Murillo (Tolima) and Cairo (Valle del Cauca), who will represent the country internationally, highlighting Colombian culture and beauty.
The selected municipalities will advance in their application before this United Nations agency for tourism, with the technical support of the Vice Ministry of Tourism and having the opportunity to be recognized as an outstanding example of a rural tourism destination in other countries.
“We have a unique potential here in our municipality in the department, so we participated in this contest that is mainly about rural tourism. We have activities such as hiking and bird watching; as well as a unique water beauty, where locals and tourists alike enjoy the natural wonders that Paicol offers,” added the mayor.
This award recognizes rural destinations that make tourism a mode of development and new employment and income opportunities, while preserving and promoting community values and products.
He Vice Minister of Tourism, Arturo Bravohighlighted that “the municipalities that are exponents of our rural tourism that applied this year They have all the necessary attributes to position Colombia as a sustainable destinationinclusive and diversified, in harmony with the life of local communities.”
