09:41 AM
The visitors that Medellín expects on the occasion of the mid-year student break would leave the city a economic spill of almost 63 million dollarsaccording to calculations by the district Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment.
The same local agency estimates that they will arrive in the city and the region this holiday season 263,000 tourists, both from the rest of the country and abroad and all links in the sector are preparing to receive them.
The prospects are especially flattering for those who provide the accommodation and lodging service, who in this time of school recess aspire to have a occupancy greater than 76 percent, A figure that means a recovery of 3.85 percent compared to the same period in 2023, which includes part of the months of June and July.
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“This projection suggests a positive trend and renewed interest in Medellín as a tourist destination during the mid-year holidays. We are a city of artists, with an integrated nature, where sports, well-being, healthy recreation and entertainment are recognized by local and international tourism,” said the Secretary of Tourism and Entertainment, José Alejandro González.
To take advantage of this tourism potential, the capital of Antioquia is preparing a whole offer in the cultural field so that visitors’ stay is full of experiences pleasant and enriching. On offer within this field, for June, are, for example, the International Tango Festival, the National Trova Festival, the Silleta Festival and the Circus Festival in its 3rd edition.
Then, in July, the programming begins with Expoartesano, continues with the International Poetry Festival, ties with the Ciudad Altavoz event, the Silleteritos Parade and the Youth Reading Parade. A great appetizer to welcome August with the Flower Fair, which is the festival par excellence for the region and which attracts the presence of thousands of tourists who come attracted to know and experience the beauty of tradition first hand. of flower growers and artisans.
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This joins attractions that are permanently available such as the Plaza de Botero with the most important outdoor collection of sculptures by the master Fernando Botero, the Pueblito Paisa, the Parque Arví, the Parque Explora, the Parque Norte, the Planetarium, commune 13, the Botanical Garden and the Museum of Antioquia.
There are also the Casa de la Memoria Museum, the Pedro Nel Gómez Museum, the Water Museum, the Juan Pablo II Airport, the Conservation Park and the artistic mural Constelaciones.
But the truth is that visitors also usually arrive amazed by the benefits of the Antioquia climate, as well as the vibrant nightlife enjoyed in the Aburrá Valley, the traditional gastronomic offer and the shows of international scope.
The tourism boom of recent years has generated such a commercial movement that this sector currently represents the 7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the city and no less important is the figure in terms of job creation, which reaches 90,000 jobs, both direct and indirect.
Since a couple of years ago, when it surpassed the threshold of one million visitors, reaching the figure of 1,300,000 people who came here to enjoy its environmentthis capital even took away Cartagena’s second place as a tourist destination, being only surpassed by Bogotá.
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All this has been coupled with the increase in air connection routes with different cities, which in turn positions the José María Córdova airport as one of the busiest terminals.
Of course, not everything has been positive, as problems have also been generated that have earned the repudiation of the authorities and Medellin residents in general. It is about the visit of some foreigners who come to star in wild parties with drugs, liquor and sexual abuse of minors.
Recently, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez launched a campaign to scare away these types of tourists by warning them of the criminal consequences they could have if they are discovered committing illegal acts such as those described above.
