Tourism and Heritage will get together in Popayán

Wednesday, 27 May 2009 00:00

The 1st International Encounter of Tourism, Historical Heritage, and Cultural Industries – an unprecedented initiative in Colombia – will allow the country to potentiate tourism plans based on cultural heritage.

From June 3 to 5, 2009, Popayán, the capital of the department of Cauca, will welcome the most important representatives of these sectors during an event that will make known the strategies of other countries when it comes to commercializing, preserving, and developing historical attractions.

Popayán will be the venue for the 1st International Encounter of Tourism, Historical Heritage, and Cultural Industries.

Aside from becoming acquainted with international experiences in the handling and management of cultural and historical heritage sites, as well as their relation to tourism, the encounter seeks to reflect on the importance of tourism based on cultural heritage.

Based on the experiences gained, tourist products will be created for fostering the enjoyment of and the acquaintance with the National Heritage of Colombia. This international encounter is organized and supported by the Colombian Hotel Association (Cotelco, by its Spanish acronym) in association with the Ministry of Culture, the Colombian Office for Cultural Industry Projects of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and the Multilateral Investment Fund (FOMIN, by its Spanish acronym).

During the encounter, the Ministry of Culture will present the policies designed for Heritage, Tourism, and Cultural Ventures through which to foster strategies to enable these sectors to better compete. “It is estimated that cultural industries generate 7% of the world’s GDP. The Ministry of Culture is placing one of its bets on cultural tourism for Colombia to internationalize its wealth and diversity as an element of growth within present political systems,” stated Minister of Culture, Paula Marcela Moreno.

Tourism figures on the rise

Economic figures reflect the above: In 2007, tourism was Colombia’s third largest exporter and first in non-traditional exports, according to research carried out by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism. Likewise, the arrival of foreign tourists in the country exhibited a growth of 14.4% during the first trimester of 2009, as compared to the same period of 2008.

“It is expected that levels of positive perception and confidence continue to grow in 2009, because the government and the private sector work hand in hand to strengthen international promotion. Proof of this is the increase in the number of visitors who visit the country,” stated Jaime Alberto Cabal, President of the Hotel Association of Colombia (Cotelco).

Some of the lectures delivered during the event will deal with subjects like cultural industries and socio-economic development, management of historical centers, marketing and trade strategies for destinations centered on cultural tourism, and museums in times of globalization, among others.

Guest specialists

A select group of specialists has been invited to participate in the 1st International Encounter of Tourism, Historical Heritage, and Cultural Industries. Among them are:

• José Do Nascimiento (Brazil), director of the Departament of Museums and Cultural Centers of the National Artistic Historical Heritage Institute (IPHAN);
  
• Fernando Carrión Mena (Ecuador), director of the Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Historical Centers;
  
• Juan Carlos Matamala (Spain), director of the Ibertur Cultural Tourism Observatory;
  
• Jordi Tresserras (Spain), president of Ibertur;
  
• Fiorella Dallari (Italy), from the University of Bologna;
  
• María Clara Barreneche (Mexico), director of Cultural Tourism at the Tourism Department of the State of Mexico;
• Francisco López Morales (Mexico), director of World Heritage at the National Institute of Anthropology and History;
  
• Elías Mujica Barresa (Peru), consultant in Management, Inclusion and Development of Historical and Cultural Heritage;
  
• Altagracia Coletto de Olmos (Dominican Republic), Tourism Undersecretary of the Tourism Secretariat of the Dominican Republic.