In the middle of the inauguration of the version number 42 of the Tourist Showcase of AnatoPresident Gustavo Petro assured that Colombia must manage to replace the foreign currency of oil and coal with tourism.
(Read: Maduro asks to advance in the substitution of oil for tourism).
“It is not that it is a whim, it is because the world has to go towards a decarbonized economy to survive and science says so”, indicated the president. Likewise, he assured that this should be a short-term process since “Colombia has enormous potential in relation to attracting tourism from outside and inside our country, the country of biodiversity.”
On the other hand, Paula Cortés, president of Anato, asked the head of state to include it in the National Development Plan maintain the 5% VAT on air tickets or implement a differential rate “to achieve a more accessible offer”.
Along with this, he asked Petro to build more airports in the country, especially in the most remote places that have great tourist potential. As it is the case of Mitú, Bahía Solano and Ipiales.
(Also: Can foreign exchange from oil be replaced by tourism? Anato responds).
“President, the financial health of the airlines that decide to arrive in Colombia must be reviewed, because we must guarantee their operability and that they do not go bankrupt, because that hurts the agenciesCortes warned.
Regarding this, Petro said that the Tolú airport will be prioritized and “tourist districts that can be reached by plane, it is not ideal to use this means, but we have no other option. Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport has the task of reducing the fuel that emits greenhouse gases”.
Regarding the VAT on air tickets, the President said that in another meeting he will speak about it. Meanwhile, the governor of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, Everth Hawkins Sjogreen, department ‘Guest of Honor’ to Anato, called on the national government “so that they do not abandon tourism” in the archipelago.
(Read: Six requests from travel and tourism agencies to the Government).
“We are a very attractive destination, but we need more area connectivity, find a solution to include us in the VAT exemption on gasoline and become more competitiveHawkins said.
“I also want to state that it is important to improve area connectivity and recover the frequencies that we have lost. We invite international agents to visit us, because we have an offer of more than four new hotels and thus we will guarantee that the destination is attractive to all tourists”, he added.
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