Ley de Turismo: Desarrollo y Calidad
Ley de Turismo: Desarrollo y Calidad
The Ley 1558 de 2012 aims to integrate social interest tourism within Colombia's economic development by promoting the development of accessible tourism services, particularly for less advantaged populations. This involves supporting companies in the social sector that offer such services and improving areas where tourism can raise living standards. The sectorial tourism plan will include directives and support programs for social interest tourism .
The Ley 1558 de 2012 proposes mechanisms to ensure quality in tourist services and destinations by mandating the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism to determine quality levels and establish national and international certification schemes. These mechanisms consider the size and capabilities of service providers and the characteristics of attractions and destinations, thus enhancing overall service quality .
The Ley 1558 de 2012 encourages public-private collaboration by establishing mechanisms for participation and concertation between the public and private sectors. This involves coordinating efforts to promote and enhance tourism competitiveness, fostering an inclusive approach that leverages resources and expertise from both sectors to achieve shared goals .
The responsibilities of the Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Turística include consolidating and supporting programs related to tourism security through collaborative efforts among governmental and related entities. Its members include national defense organizations like the Police and Armed Forces, as well as the Ministry of Trade, ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive approach to safeguarding tourists .
The Consejo Superior del Turismo provides high-level governance for the tourism sector in Colombia by consolidating efforts and facilitating cooperation among various ministries and entities. It includes representatives from several government departments such as Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Interior, Foreign Relations, Environment, Transportation, Culture, and others, ensuring a coordinated approach to tourism policy .
The Ley 1558 de 2012 addresses sustainability within the tourism industry by emphasizing sustainable development as a guiding principle. It establishes the need for standards in quality, safety, and sustainability for tourist services and destinations and introduces a certification framework to ensure these criteria are met. The law aims to balance tourist satisfaction with minimal impacts on natural and cultural resources .
The Ley 1558 de 2012 defines a tourist as an individual who travels outside their usual environment, staying at least one night at the destination, primarily for leisure, culture, health, or other non-business purposes. This definition broadens the understanding of tourism, encouraging policies that accommodate diverse motivations for travel and ensuring services and infrastructure are inclusive and cater to various tourist needs .
The concept of 'capacity of charge' as defined in the Ley 1558 de 2012 contributes to sustainable tourism by setting limits on the number of tourists a location can accommodate, ensuring visitor satisfaction and minimizing the impact on environmental and cultural resources. This management tool helps prevent over-tourism, preserving destinations for future generations while maintaining high-quality visitor experiences .
The Ley 1558 de 2012 describes the tourism industry as crucial for Colombia's economic development, emphasizing its role in boosting territorial entities' economies and its function as a social industry. The law highlights favorable tax rates for service providers to encourage industrial or commercial activity, recognizing tourism’s potential to contribute significantly to national development .
The key principles outlined in the Ley 1558 de 2012 that guide the tourism industry in Colombia include concertación, coordinación, decentralization, planning, freedom of enterprise, promotion, facilitation, social, economic, and cultural development, sustainable development, quality, competitiveness, accessibility, and consumer protection .