Sustainable Tourism Destination Management in Colombia
From April 2020 to March 2021 Gamper Smith Associates supported Colombia Más Competitiva (C+C), a joint initiative between the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Colombian government to strengthen the competitiveness and diversification of the Colombian economy. The programme focuses on the four value chains of sustainable construction, natural ingredients, specialised cocoa and sustainable tourism.
GSA co-designed a training and coaching programme to develop domestic tourism destinations in Colombia competitively and sustainably, providing more than 100 hours of support. Our focus was demand-led analysis and planning of tourism destinations and developing a strong mutual understanding of the principles of sustainable tourism. Around 40 participants from the Colombian Ministry of Tourism, Colombian Universities, public and private sector organisations took part throughout the year, from the provinces of Guajira, Guaviare, Boyacá and Huila. The training modules are now published, with accompanying facilitator and student guides.
GSA brought global experience in sustainable tourism destination management to the local context of each of the selected destinations in Colombia amid the particular challenges brought about by the COVID19 pandemic. We are convinced that global knowledge exchange can support local solutions to local priorities, through long-term, iterative development that has collaboration - between empowered citizens, civil society, businesses and government - at its core. Four regions in Colombia now have sustainable tourism destination management plans in place. The plans are also now central to the post-COVID19 economic recovery plans in these districts.