Colombia Promotes Ecotourism at the Korea International Tourism Fair 2025 – Travel And Tour World

Report on Colombia’s Ecotourism Promotion at the 2025 Korea International Tourism Exposition

Introduction: Aligning Tourism with Global Sustainability Mandates

In a strategic initiative to bolster its international tourism profile, the Republic of Colombia participated in the 2025 Korea International Tourism Exposition held in Seoul. Spearheaded by ProColombia, the national tourism administration, the country’s presentation focused on promoting its extensive natural assets through an ecotourism framework. This report analyzes Colombia’s strategy, with significant emphasis on its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing a commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism development.

Strategic Focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Colombia’s promotional activities directly support SDG 8 by positioning ecotourism as a key driver for sustainable economic growth and the creation of decent work. By attracting international visitors to its biodiverse regions, the strategy aims to:

• Generate sustainable revenue streams for local and indigenous communities, reducing poverty and inequality.
• Create employment opportunities in hospitality, conservation, and tour guiding that are rooted in the preservation of natural and cultural heritage.
• Foster a resilient tourism sector that contributes significantly to the national GDP while promoting responsible economic practices.

Commitment to SDG 12, 14, and 15: Responsible Consumption and Production, Life Below Water, and Life on Land

The core of Colombia’s presentation was its dedication to environmental stewardship, directly addressing goals related to conservation and responsible resource management.

1. Promoting Responsible Tourism (SDG 12): ProColombia emphasized a model of tourism that encourages responsible consumption patterns, ensuring that the growing demand for nature-based travel does not lead to environmental degradation.
2. Protecting Life on Land (SDG 15): The showcase highlighted Colombia’s status as the country with the highest biodiversity per square kilometer. Emphasis was placed on protected areas such as Los Nevados and Tayrona National Parks, which are central to preserving terrestrial ecosystems and serve as prime destinations for responsible ecotourism.
3. Conserving Marine Ecosystems (SDG 14): By promoting coastal destinations like Tayrona National Park and Bahia Solano, the initiative implicitly supports the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems, which are integral to the country’s ecological wealth.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Colombia’s participation in the exposition exemplifies a proactive approach to building international partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

• Bilateral Cooperation: The presence of high-ranking officials, including Ambassador Alejandro Peláez Rodríguez, underscored a governmental commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with South Korea.
• Market Development: The event served as a platform to engage with South Korean tourism stakeholders and travel agencies, with the objective of developing specialized, sustainable tour packages tailored to this market.
• Cultural Exchange: The fair facilitated a cultural and tourism exchange, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration essential for long-term, sustainable partnerships.

Safeguarding Heritage under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Beyond its natural landscapes, Colombia promoted its rich cultural heritage as a vital component of a sustainable tourism experience, aligning with the targets of SDG 11.

• Cultural Preservation: The inclusion of traditional Cumbia and Salsa performances showcased Colombia’s vibrant cultural traditions, highlighting the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
• Holistic Visitor Experience: By integrating cultural elements with ecotourism, Colombia offers a more immersive and authentic travel experience, which helps sustain local communities and their unique cultural identities.

Future Outlook and Strategic Initiatives

Deepening Bilateral Tourism and Digital Outreach

ProColombia outlined a forward-looking strategy to solidify its position in the global tourism market. Key future actions include:

1. Targeted Marketing: Increasing the visibility of Colombian ecotourism destinations in the South Korean market through targeted campaigns and collaborations.
2. Digital Engagement: Leveraging digital platforms, including social media and official travel websites, to reach a global audience and provide accessible information on sustainable travel options in Colombia.
3. Partnership Expansion: Continuing to build relationships with international travel agencies to co-create tourism products that are both economically beneficial and environmentally responsible.

Conclusion

Colombia’s participation in the 2025 Korea International Tourism Fair marks a significant step in its journey to become a world leader in sustainable tourism. By strategically aligning its tourism promotion with the Sustainable Development Goals, Colombia is not only showcasing its unparalleled natural beauty and cultural vibrancy but also demonstrating a profound commitment to a development model that is environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially equitable. This integrated approach positions the nation for a promising and sustainable future in the global tourism landscape.

SDGs Addressed or Connected

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article highlights how Colombia’s focus on ecotourism is designed to generate economic benefits for local populations. It states, “By attracting visitors to these biodiverse regions, Colombia ensures that local communities benefit from tourism revenues while preserving the integrity of its ecosystems.” This directly connects to promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and supports local economies.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The core theme of the article is Colombia’s commitment to being an “environmentally responsible tourist destination” and promoting “sustainable travel practices.” This aligns with SDG 12’s goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, specifically within the tourism sector. The article notes that Colombia’s strategy ensures “that the growing demand for nature-based travel does not compromise environmental sustainability.”

SDG 15: Life on Land

• This goal is central to the article, which extensively details Colombia’s natural assets, including its status as the country with the “highest biodiversity per square kilometer in the world.” The promotion of ecotourism is explicitly linked to conservation efforts, mentioning “protected national parks, including Los Nevados National Park and Tayrona National Park,” which “play an important role in preserving biodiversity.” The entire strategy is built on the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article describes a clear partnership between Colombia and South Korea to advance sustainable tourism. Colombia’s participation in the Korea International Tourism Fair is presented as an effort to “strengthen ties between Colombia and South Korea” and build “deeper bilateral cooperation.” It also mentions future plans to “collaborate with South Korean travel agencies to offer specialized tours,” which exemplifies a public-private partnership to achieve sustainable development goals.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 8.9: Promote sustainable tourism

   By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article is a case study of this target in action, with ProColombia implementing a national strategy to promote ecotourism that benefits local communities and showcases cultural traditions like Cumbia and Salsa dances.

2. Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism

   The article describes ProColombia’s strategy as a tool to manage and promote sustainable tourism. The emphasis on “responsible travel” and ensuring that tourism growth “does not compromise environmental sustainability” reflects an effort to monitor the impacts of tourism. The plan to create “specialized tours that focus on sustainability and nature conservation” is a tangible implementation of this target.

3. Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

   Colombia’s focus on its “protected national parks” and using ecotourism as a vehicle for “preserving biodiversity” directly supports this target. The article emphasizes that these natural treasures are promoted not just for scenic beauty but as “key components of Colombia’s conservation efforts.”

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

   The collaboration between ProColombia (a public entity) and South Korean travel agencies (private sector) is a direct example of this target. The article states, “ProColombia also indicated plans to collaborate with South Korean travel agencies to offer specialized tours that focus on sustainability and nature conservation,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership approach.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

1. Tourism revenues benefiting local communities

   The article implies this as a measure of success by stating that Colombia “ensures that local communities benefit from tourism revenues.” Tracking the flow of tourism-related income to local areas would be a direct indicator of progress towards Target 8.9.

2. Number of protected areas promoted for ecotourism

   The specific mention of “Los Nevados National Park and Tayrona National Park” as key ecotourism sites serves as an indicator. The extent to which protected areas are integrated into the national sustainable tourism strategy can measure the implementation of Target 15.1.

3. Development of specialized sustainable tour packages

   The plan to “collaborate with South Korean travel agencies to offer specialized tours that focus on sustainability and nature conservation” is a concrete, measurable action. The number and success of these tours would serve as an indicator for Targets 12.b and 17.17.

4. Number of international partnerships and collaborations

   The entire event at the Korea International Tourism Fair and the stated goal to “continue enhancing the tourism exchange between Colombia and South Korea” are indicators of partnership building. The number of such bilateral events, agreements, or joint marketing campaigns can measure progress towards Target 17.17.

5. Digital engagement and reach

   The article mentions leveraging “digital platforms such as Instagram and its official travel website” to reach global audiences. Metrics from these platforms (e.g., reach, engagement, traffic to the travel website from specific markets like South Korea) can be used as indicators of the effectiveness of promotional efforts for sustainable tourism.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: travelandtourworld.com