At the local level, economic activities around tourism depend on external demand, as foreign visitors invest in tourist packages. For these benefits to materialize, local governments must support the strengthening of tourism and, therefore, employment and the entry of new income.
Regional and sectoral interdependencies allow household tourism consumption to be an efficient channel to reduce inequalities in the country. The distribution of this income depends on cultural, structural and location factors. For this reason, the magnitude of the multipliers is key to the potential benefits: regional inequalities could be reduced if tourism is promoted as a local development strategy.
The tourism industry generates a lot of work, and for this reason, its promoters must foster its potential to generate more local income. Being connected to various industries such as accommodation, transportation, entertainment, travel agencies, administration, finance, health and inter- and intra-regional travel, tourism can directly or indirectly impact gross production, value added and employment.
On the other hand, tourism activity is vital for the fulfillment of the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals to 2030, specifically in areas such as poverty, zero hunger, health, well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water, sanitation, energy affordable and non-polluting, decent work, economic growth, innovation and infrastructure, reduction of inequality, sustainable communities, responsible production and consumption, among others.
Thanks to the intersectoral nature of tourism, it is possible to strengthen public-private partnerships and involve multiple agents (international, national, regional and local) to achieve the objectives described above.
Challenges and Opportunities
Tourism development is a priority for the government as stated in the National Development Plan: “The territories will develop their capacities for the sustainable use of their natural and cultural wealth, effectively linking it to the tourism offer in such a way as to promote the value chain of the sector.”
The government, with the support of territorial entities and different public, private and community actors, must advance strategic tourism projects. Likewise, promote the creation of tourism companies, by adjusting the payment of the parafiscal rate during the first years of operation of these productive units.
These types of activities will contribute to peace and the positioning of Colombia as a destination where tourism is done in harmony with life, in line with the Tourism Sector Plan.
