Mayors make new call for security at Anato Tourist Showcase

Mayors of capital cities made a new call to combat insecurity during the inauguration of the 44th edition of the Tourism Showcase of the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ANATO), in Bogotá.

The mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán , recorded a video with 13 other local leaders, including Alejandro Eder from Cali; Jaime Andrés Beltrán from Bucaramanga; Jorge Rojas Giraldo from Manizales; and Mikhail Krasnov from Tunja.

" The mayors of the capital cities met within the framework of the Anato with a clear message: the public order situation, the growth of criminal organizations and the increase in coca production have a great impact on the security of the cities ," said Galán.

They also asked the National Government and the new Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez, to build concrete plans to overcome this scourge. "We need to act now. We call on the National Government to work together, coordinate efforts and face this problem with determination. We trust in the new Minister of Defense and the new leadership of the National Police to build concrete solutions. Security cannot wait any longer ," added the mayor of Bogotá.

President Gustavo Petro participated this Wednesday in the installation of the 44th version of the Tourism Showcase of the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ANATO), which will take place from February 26 to 28 at Corferias, Bogotá. As usual, the head of state gave a speech.

During the meeting, the president asked the designated Minister of Defense to implement a plan so that the Public Force prioritizes the protection of tourist areas.

"When one looks at what the Army and the Police are used for, there is an emphasis - especially in the Army - on protecting the oil pipelines. They are considered strategic points. But they are not considered the same as tourist sites. And it turns out that right now tourism is now more strategic than coal and oil. Here there has to be a change in the administrative concept in the Public Force. We have to look at a transition in time, where priority is given to the tourist area, the care of the tourist and the tourist assets. We have to rethink things. Protecting a pipeline is not the same as protecting people. That is something I have raised for the Minister of Defense and the Police General. We have to make a concrete plan in this regard. We have to make every beauty zone a zone of peace," he said.

Juan Pablo Penagos Ramirez