In Neiva, Huila, the First National Tourism Product Encounter is underway, bringing together 150 participants from various regions of Colombia to bolster the tourism sector. The event, which started on December 2 and runs until December 4, features specialized talks and training sessions with national and international experts. The initiative aims to turn attractions into consolidated tourist products, backed by a 300 million peso investment from the National Government.
The First National Tourism Product Encounter: Transforming Imaginaries took place in Neiva, capital of Huila, as a key national hub for the sector. Started on December 2, 2025, and scheduled until December 4, the event drew 150 participants, including businesspeople and tourism operators from Huila, Vaupés, Tolima, Santander, Cundinamarca, Meta, and Bogotá D.C.
The organization stemmed from a joint bid by the Huila Governor's Office, through its Secretariat of Economic Development and Tourism, and the Neiva Mayor's Office, via its Secretariat of Competitiveness and TICS. Jorge Andrés Géchem, Secretary of Economic Development, noted: “It came about after a bid submitted by the Huila Governor's Office [...] in coordination with the Neiva Mayor's Office”. Géchem highlighted the achievement despite initial skepticism: “When we made the bid, they told us they wouldn't choose us as the host. We said, let's do it. We achieved it. And this shows that things can be accomplished, but it also means they're viewing us differently from the national level”.
Regarded as the second most important national event from the Vice Ministry of Tourism, the agenda features speakers from Uruguay, Mexico, and national entities to train on developing tourist products. Orlando Ferro, Director of Tourism Quality and Development at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, pointed out the strong interest: “With all the anticipation, more than 250 operators registered for the event, but we only had 150 spots available”. The full 300 million peso investment comes from the National Government, executed by the National Tourism Fund (Fontur).
The goal is to create environmentally respectful tourist products, exchange experiences, and position Huila on the global tourism map. The event continues on December 3 at Club Los Lagos. In the photo, Adriana Cortes, manager of Mirador Cultural Paraíso del Huila in La Plata, and Eduardo Yarto, invited speaker, appear.