Colombian Tourism Threatened by Violence

Armed groups are threatening Colombia's tourism sector, particularly in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, by extorting local businesses and terrorizing Indigenous communities. This development, reported on May 6, 2026, impacts a key economic driver that emerged following the 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The Self-Defence Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), a paramilitary successor group, controls cocaine trafficking and illegal gold mining in the area. The group demands a percentage of earnings from hotels, tour bus operators, and Indigenous communities, whose artisanal products are popular with tourists. This has led to fear among local populations, including the Kogui and Arhuaco Indigenous peoples, who inhabit the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park.

In February, Tayrona National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was closed for over two weeks due to alleged ACSN threats against park rangers. Authorities also accuse the group of pressuring Indigenous Wayuu residents to resist crackdowns on illegal logging. The Sierra Nevada and Tayrona national parks collectively received over 873,000 visitors last year. The Ministry of Defence has recorded more than 46,000 extortion complaints since 2022, raising concerns among tourism stakeholders about the long-term impact on Colombia's tourism boom.