José Alejandro González has been appointed as the new Secretary of Tourism and Entertainment for Medellín. The announcement was made by Mayor Federico Gutiérrez on Tuesday, March 8th.
González has a long history of experience in the tourism sector. He has served as the manager of the travel agency Veracruz L’alianxa SAS, president of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Anato) in Antioquia, and member of the boards of directors of L’alianxa LTN Colombia and Latin America, Plaza Mayor, Bureau, and ACI.
As Secretary of Tourism and Entertainment, González will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote tourism in Medellín. He will also be responsible for leading the city’s efforts to prevent the sexual exploitation of women, children, and adolescents by tourists.
In a statement, Mayor Gutiérrez said that González’s appointment is a “step forward” in the city’s efforts to position itself as a “leading tourist destination.” He added that González’s experience and expertise will be “invaluable” in helping the city achieve its tourism goals.
González’s appointment comes at a time when Medellín is experiencing a boom in tourism. In 2023, the city received a record number of visitors, close to 1.7 million, of which nearly half were foreigners. According to official figures, tourism contributes approximately 7% of the city’s GDP and generates some 110,000 direct and indirect jobs.