With an initial investment of over $19 billion, the program aims to strengthen micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs, and actors in the popular and community economy.
EMPRETUR, created by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, focuses on human development, productivity, innovation, and sustainability nationwide. The first four calls for proposals will be open until January 30, providing support for community tourism initiatives, tourism-related micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and agglomerations, promoting economic justice.
The program goes beyond traditional technical assistance by providing specialized support and, in some cases, productive capital. The strengthening of tourism businesses, training, education, and the possibility of designing and implementing new tourism experiences and services are anticipated.
Arturo Bravo, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, led the presentation of EMPRETUR, emphasizing the importance of calls in non-traditional territories, such as coastal municipalities of the Pacific Coast and departments like Amazonas, Arauca, and Caquetá. At the event, he received the support of leaders from the autonomous heritage entities of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism: Colombia Productiva, FONTUR, iNNpulsa Colombia, and ProColombia, who will be responsible for the program's implementation.
Regarding this program, it is noteworthy that tourism received a strong boost in 2022, with a 119.1% increase in non-resident visitors compared to 2021.
In the second quarter of 2023, there is an increase of 9.9%. In addition, the National Natural Parks experienced a 33.9% increase in 2022 and a 10.7% increase between January and September 2023.The occupancy rate of accommodations was 55.6% in 2022, increasing by 14.8 percentage points compared to 2021. Between January and August 2023, the rate remained a solid 52.2%, an increase of 4.2 percentage points compared to 2019.
Considering this increase in various tourism-related services, it is worth noting that the added value of tourism in 2022 reached $28.001 billion, registering a significant increase of 52.5% compared to the previous year and a solid growth of 10.6% compared to 2019.
These figures confirm that tourism in Colombia is increasingly consolidating itself as a leading revenue sector. Initiatives like EMPRETUR promote sustainable and inclusive tourism, marking a step towards equitable and sustainable development nationwide.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism. (2023, November 22). National government launches EMPRETUR, the first program of incentives, and promotion for the tourism sector. Retrieved from https://www.mincit.gov.co/prensa/noticias/turismo/gobierno-nacional-lanza-empretur-el-primer-program
Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism. (2023). Monthly Tourism Report, August-September 2023. Retrieved from https://www.mincit.gov.co/estudios-economicos/estadisticas-e-informes/informes-de-turismo
Posted on: December 15th, 2023
By: Admin
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