EN - The Colombian capital reminds the world that, even amidst its lockdown, it remains active and continues to work, anticipating the moment it can once again receive foreign tourists and investors. By means of the hashtags #SeeYouInBogota and #EnBogotáNosVemos, the Colombian capital sends a message of support to other cities in the world affected by the global pandemic.
Even though Bogota, like most of the world, stays at home to protect the life of its inhabitants, it remains active, refashioning itself, and responsibly anticipating a future where it can once again welcome tourists, events, and investors.
As part of the strategy to inform the world that the city remains committed to both pursue solutions in spite of the crisis and also create new forward-thinking synergies, entities from the Bogota´s Board of Marketing, such as the Secretary of Economic Development, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, the District Institute of Tourism, the Secretary of Culture, Recreation & Sport, the General Secretariat through the International Relations Bogotá Mayor’s Office, the Greater Bogota Convention Bureau, and Invest in Bogota, in collaboration with ProColombia, ProBogota, Corferias, and the Agora Convention Center have partnered to demonstrate the ways the city prepares for the moment it can begin its reactivation process. The purpose of the campaign is to tell the world that the Capital of Colombia works tirelessly in the search for solutions in the midst of the current situation, while also creating new synergies for the future.
Through the hashtags #SeeYouInBogota and #EnBogotáNosVemos, the city is also sending messages of support to the other capitals of the world also affected by the current coronavirus pandemic.
Creation, Opportunity, and Productivity
Nicolas Uribe Rueda, President of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, declared that “this is a city of opportunities. It is dynamic, inclusive, and innovative, and for that reason, companies are currently readjusting, catalyzing productivity and energizing economic development. Bogota is and will continue being one of Latin America’s most attractive destinations for business and investment.
Meanwhile, the director of the District Institute of Tourism, IDT for its acronym in Spanish, Karol Fajardo Mariño, maintained that “for the development of this new strategy, with the IDT team, we developed a visual product to promote the city, which involved joint work in different areas of the entity, and the allocation of resources for the implementation of the initiative #SeeYouInBogota”.
In the same way, she highlighted the articulation work that this entity has carried out with other District offices so that: “the tourism industry in Bogota is preparing for when the city opens its gates again and we can welcome visitors, tourists, and locals, to a safe, reliable and renewed destination” Fajardo pointed out.
This is done in coordination with a wide cultural offer, designed for people to access, without leaving their homes, different alternatives to help cope with the crisis. These activities, currently underway, incorporate and leverage music, art, education, and literature.
“In Bogota, we have found ourselves surrounded by creation, and together we have made sure that this is both an everyday act, as much as a tool to get by. In Bogota, we are all creators, and recognizing this is essential to every aspects of living in this city,” specified Nicolas Montero, the city’s Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Sport.
In addition to acting as a reference point in Latin America for the meeting´s industry, Bogota is also part of the BestCities Global Alliance, an association made up of the top 11 cities to host events in the world. This alliance provides the city with a standard of good global practices, and a platform for international commerce.
For Liliana Orbegozo, executive director of the Greater Bogota Convention Bureau, “our commitment to positioning Bogota as the best destination in Latin America is focused on sustainability, dependency, and optimism. After all, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism is key to the recovery of the industry and to the city’s economic and social development”.
Business does not stop
In the case of business and investment “once the city begins its process of economic recovery, international investors will continue to find in Bogota an array of talent, a strategic location for continental networks, and an optimal market-size for the development of new businesses”, emphasized Invest In Bogota’s executive director, Juan Gabriel Perez.
The capital stands out as one of the top destinations for investment in Latin America. According to the World Bank, it is the third city in the region with the greatest potential for business opportunities. Only in 2019, the city’s foreign direct investment was close to US $3 billion.
Thereby, the city hopes to stand out internationally, not only for its strength, optimism, and dynamism but also for its teamwork, so that tourists, event organizers, and participants, as well as investors and business people, think about the city and say #SeeYouinBogota.
