Colombian tourist town seeks visitors' return after earthquake

Salento, a picturesque town in Colombia's Coffee Region, is facing an economic downturn as tourism dwindles following a recent earthquake. Although the town itself suffered minimal material damage, the seismic event has significantly deterred visitors, impacting the livelihoods of residents who depend heavily on the tourism industry.

The town, known for its colorful colonial-style architecture and its proximity to the Cocora Valley, home to the national tree, the wax palm, typically buzzes with local and international tourists. However, recent days have seen only small groups of visitors, with businesses open but largely empty. Local authorities reported that the 7.4 magnitude earthquake on August 10th affected 166 homes, injured three people, and caused no fatalities in Salento.

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The moment of the earthquake was very distressing, but at the same time very calm because the houses are very old. There was a lot of damage to the roofs, but there was no loss of life.

Lady Rojas, who works at the Aquí me quedo restaurant, described the earthquake as "very distressing" but noted that structural damage was mainly to roofs, with no loss of life. The restaurant was permitted to reopen last week after an assessment of the building's safety. Despite the town's resilience, the economic impact is substantial, especially after missing out on a crucial holiday weekend.

Compounding the issue, the two main roads connecting the Coffee Region to Bogotá are closed due to landslides caused by the earthquake. Additionally, the Matecaña airport in Pereira, the region's primary air hub, is only expected to fully reopen by the end of this week after sustaining damage. This isolation further hinders the recovery of Salento's vital tourism sector, leaving business owners hopeful for a return to normalcy.

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It was the bridge we most looked forward to for August holidays, and we are very alone, although people have not stopped coming. We hope to reactivate again, but first, solidarity with...