Santander’s challenges in tourism

Within the framework of the most important tourism showcase in the country, ANATO, the Governor launched what he calls The Ecopetrol of Tourism.

“To consolidate the idea of ​​creating a company to manage tourism in the department. The Government can contribute about 600 billion pesos, in addition to what Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Piedecuesta have; all those who want to be partners. Additionally, invite to the private sector to put part of the money to advance with infrastructure, advertising and promotion and thus begin to bring tourists. This is what is needed to convert tourist sites into tourist destinations. We can also propose to the national government that become a member or allocate resources from royalties to start generating income; in addition to infrastructure and education, from tourism,” said the Governor.

For example, the windows of Tisquizoque, in the municipality of Florián, are a natural wonder, where waterfalls fall through a cave, they are something spectacular. What I propose with that company is to make the loan, provide security, adapt it, install an information booth, add a bilingualism program, fix the road, certify the hotels and restaurants, build a cafeteria, a wine store, a heliport . With promotion and advertising we can turn the windows into a tourist destination.

There is an untapped diamond called the Topocoro dam, with a temperate climate, where Comfenalco is already building a large hotel, and there are hotel chains that have shown interest. This is going to be a very important development pole for Santander. We want to create an entire tourist circuit, which invites people who come to a conference in Bucaramanga to stay at least two weekends. Let them go to Barichara, to San Gil, to the Chicamocha National Park, to the Mesa de los Santos by the cable car and stay there.