Harvest festivals boost hotel occupancy to 60%

Until August 31, the iconic Harvest Festivals in Pereira, ‘those of the chupe’. In this edition, with the celebration of the 159 years of the city, and with the return to attendance, the city has high expectations regarding the results that tourism can provide.

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For Carlos Maya, Mayor Pereira, these fairs boost the local economy and help strengthen the city as an epicenter of tourism.

“In the historical data for the Harvest Festivals, they show a hotel occupancy of 55% in 2019, for 2021 it was 50% and our goal for this year is to reach a hotel capacity of 60%.Maya said.

And it is that the local president also assured that the city already has a regional, national and international air connection. So the goal is to mobilize about 2 million passengers.

“With this fair we want to support local talent, the popular music that has historically consolidated our region and thereby make this recognition. At the same time we want to make tourism so that the Pereira festivities can be enjoyed and begin to consolidate as a tourist alternative for all Colombians and thus love what is theirs and begin to spread it throughout the country.”, Maya pointed out to Portfolio.

In this way, Pereira seeks to boost the economy of restaurants, hotels, merchants, for products made in the city and give greater visibility to the local economy and to enterprises, giving formally and informally employing more than 1,000 people from Pereina at the fairs.

This event has not only had resources from the city, but has also had the sponsorship of private parties. Between the two, $5,000 million will be invested.

“We are inviting Pereirans, and we also plan 150,000 visitors to all these activities”, indicated the mayor of Pereira.

The mayor and the city expect great results, considering that are the third tourist destination, after Cartagena and Bogotá and are above San Andrés and Santa Marta.

“It is a tourist destination that has been consolidated by the nature that we have, we have plans so that the whole family knows animals in danger of extinction that we have recovered. We go hand in hand working with science, technology and innovation, doing an exercise that makes Pereira visible in the international contextMaya pointed out.

WHO WILL BE?

The programming has including 22 cultural and sporting events open to the public at no cost, 15 concerts with 33 national and international artists and the presentation of 150 local artists. The musical poster includes renowned artists such as El Grupo Niche, Alberto Plaza, Santiago Cruz, Pipe Bueno, Paola Jara, Jhon Alex Castaño, Jhonny Rivera, Arelys Henao, Charrito Negro, Los Gigantes del Vallenato, Osmar Pérez, Los Inquietos del Vallenato. , Los Chiches Vallenatos, Alkilados, Andy Rivera, among others.

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In addition to these, the agenda includes an international billiards tournament, a typical poncho and hat party; international gastronomic festival, commercial fair in the ring road, “Grade A” city equine cup, 5 k 10 k athletics race, festival of the furry ones (activity with pets), city of inflatables for children’s fun, pereiranidad day , old age of the elderlyPereira Blooms in August (orchid exhibition), night safari, among others.

These activities will be carried out in different neighborhoods and communes. Among them, the Iron Music Concert with artists such as Rudy Márquez and others of national stature, the Gospel concert (Christian music) which is also a tradition on the festival agenda each year. And the Rock Axis that will feature international artists such as Thel Barrio (MEX) in this version.

In the closing week there will be a varied agenda with activities for the whole family, such as the symphonic musical “Encanto Pereirano”, which will be will take place on August 29, 30 and 31.

In addition, from August 26 to 28 there will be three days of free concerts where the public can enjoy popular national artists such as Pipe Bueno, Paola Jara, Charrito Negro, Joaquín Guiller, Arelys Henao, Jhon Alex Castaño, Jhonny Rivera, Luis Albert Posada.

On the other hand, there will be the Niche Group, Daniel Calderón, the Vallenato Giants, Osmar Pérez, and the Vallenato Restless.

Paula Galeano Balaguera
[email protected]