Translated by Andrés Martínez
On Saturday, May 5rd, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán inaugurated the first International Tourist Information Point at El Dorado Airport in Bogotá. He also attended the certification ceremony for 40 taxi drivers in customer service, human relations, and the ethical code of responsible and accessible tourism. Additionally, he visited the first Tourism Entrepreneurship Fair organized by the Bogotá Tourism Institute (IDT).
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"It's very symbolic that Bogotá finally has a Tourist Information Point at El Dorado Airport, where the entire tourist offer of the city will be promoted, being the arrival point for the majority of foreign tourists," Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán stated.
These strategic actions aim to strengthen and promote tourism in the colombian capital, representing a renewed commitment to sustainable tourism development and enhancing the experience of visitors and tourists arriving in Bogotá.
"El Dorado Airport is the highest-rated airport in South America, serving as a significant gateway to attract tourism and investment and connect Bogotá with the world. Thanks to OPAIN and Bogotá's team for the work done, which allows us to deliver this point to the city today, completing seven in different strategic areas of the city," confirmed the Mayor.
Here's a post by Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán on the opening of the International Tourist Assistance Point at El Dorado Airport in Bogotá:
The event was attended by Secretary of Economic Development, María del Pilar López; IDT Director, Andrés Santamaría; OPAIN Manager, Natali Leal; President of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, Ovidio Claros; 'Taxis Libres' Manager, Stefanía Hernández; and 'Taxi Imperial' Manager, Valentina Hernández.
The event was attended by Secretary of Economic Development, María del Pilar López; IDT Director, Andrés Santamaría; OPAIN Manager, Natali Leal; President of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, Ovidio Claros; 'Taxis Libres' Manager, Stefanía Hernández; and 'Taxi Imperial' Manager, Valentina Hernández.
This accessible point, now open at El Dorado International Airport, is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and specialized staff to provide assistance, guidance, and information on places of interest to our foreign visitors. It has a capacity to serve over 50,000 international travelers per month and, together with the new 'Visit Bogotá' App, will provide information to tourists about the city's gastronomic, cultural, and natural offerings.
Tourist guidance for both national and international tourists will be provided at this point located in the international arrivals area of El Dorado. Sustainable and smart, it features Professional Tour Guides and operates from Sunday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
"Our vision is to make Bogotá not only a top-level tourist destination but also a model of sustainability and innovation. Each initiative we present today is a step towards significantly improving the experience of every visitor and strengthening our local economy," noted Andrés Santamaría, IDT Director.
In this post by the Bogotá District Tourism Institute, find more details about the new tourist orientation strategy at El Dorado Airport:
In addition to the opening of the point, the rainwater treatment system at El Dorado Airport was presented, a leading sustainable initiative in Latin America. It consists of a modern wastewater treatment plant that has a significant impact on preserving Bogotá's water resources.
The plant recycles and treats 100% of the rainwater that falls on the terminal's roof and has also installed free water dispensers at various points, avoiding the use of over a million plastic bottles and utilizing 65% of waste.
This innovative system reflects Bogotá's ability to promote sustainable and efficient water management practices, considering the current environmental context the city faces due to the El Niño phenomenon, which necessitates responsible use of this life resource.
Taxi Certifications, Entrepreneurship Fair, and Activations
During the day, the first batch of certifications was also awarded to 40 taxi drivers from the 'Taxi Imperial' company, operating at El Dorado International Airport, who were part of the pedagogical process "Bogotá: Authentic, Responsible, and Accessible Tourist Destination."
The aim of this process is to improve the quality of service to both national and international passengers. Therefore, taxi drivers are trained in topics such as professional ethics, knowledge of tourist sites in Bogotá, human relations, ethical code of responsible and accessible tourism. Bogotá's annual goal is to certify 700 taxi drivers.
Another activity held over the weekend at the airport was the first Tourism Entrepreneurship Fair, driven by the IDT, aimed at promoting diversity and innovation in Bogotá's tourism offer. It brings together 12 local entrepreneurs from travel agencies, tour operators, museums, and artisans, who can offer their full range of tourism services and products to city visitors, travel plans, and boost the sector's economy.
"Today we also had a space where we delivered the first certifications to taxi drivers, visited the entrepreneurship fair, and learned about rainwater management and the wastewater treatment plant at El Dorado Airport, which represents the commitment of this terminal to water saving and reuse," added Mayor Galán.
As part of the ongoing promotion of the Bogotá brand to position the city as a world-class tourist destination, the IDT confirmed the projection of the promotional video of the capital on the screens of El Dorado Airport, along with the placement of three large-format prints and a screen with photographs and descriptions for visitors on 10 must-see destinations in the city.
With these activations, which use impactful images and messages to attract the attention of national and international travelers to Bogotá's tourist, cultural, and gastronomic attractions, the IDT reaffirms its commitment to positioning the city as a top-level tourist destination that is smart, sustainable, and warmly welcomes visitors from around the world.
Finally, the mayor took the opportunity to call for continued efforts to reduce water consumption: "I take this opportunity to remind citizens of the importance of maintaining water savings; this crisis is not over in Bogotá, we cannot be complacent, and to avoid expanding restrictions, it is important to continue saving water," he emphasized.
