And so, along with a new government, comes a new country brand for Colombia and this time it's: Colombia, the Country of Beauty or in Spanish: Colombia, El País de la Belleza.

Bruce McLean of BNBColombia Tours joins us this week to discuss this new advertising campaign for Colombia and to share with us how the travel and tourism industry is progressing from his perspective as an industry expert with his agency.

We discuss new travel destinations in Colombia, old favourites such as Cartagena, how travel and the tourism industry in Colombia is improving and enjoy a relaxed conversation to plug and promote Colombia as your next destination and what it means to be a travel agency that is carbon zero.

Check out: www.bnbcolombia.com

The Colombia News Brief is reported by journalist Emily Hart.

and of course, the new Colombia country campaign video: https://www.colombia.co/en/

This week, Tyler Schwab, director and founder of Libertas International, joins us to discuss the ongoing and nefarious practice of child exploitation in Colombia.

With investigations in all major Colombian cities, but focused principally in Medellín, Libertas International works hand in hand with local authorities to pursue foreign visitors coming to Colombia seeking to exploit the most vulnerable - the children.

The organization employs social workers and psychologists to aid with after-care and security and ensures that the full force of the law comes down on the offenders.

So, this is an opportunity to dispel some of the myths surrounding the recent film: The Sound of Freedom, starring Hollywood big-hitters such as actors Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino.

Libertas International is a non-profit corporation and operates exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. Their purpose is to help prevent child trafficking through education, rescue children through intervention, and rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking in Latin America through empowerment and aftercare.

www.libertasfreedom.org

Colombians go to the urns once again in national elections on 29 October 2023 and so, what better occasion to invite friend to the Colombia Calling podcast, Sergio Guzman, Director of Colombia Risk Analysis to explain some of the key issues and trends taking place.

We try and keep this conversation somewhat jovial since the outlook is pretty bleak!

There are four main talking points:

1. The 2023 local elections will become a referendum on President Gustavo Petro.
2. Lack of voter intention polls will likely affect voter preferences.
3. The erosion of the political party system is likely to continue.
4. Political Violence is likely to increase as Colombia gets closer to election day.

We discuss journalist Laura Ardila Arrieta's latest book: "La Costa Nostra," a deep dive into corruption overseen by the Char political clan from their seat of power in Barranquilla and take a look at other issues affecting the political landscape in Colombia.

The Colombia News Brief is reported by journalist Emily Hart.

Tune in and also check out:
https://www.colombiariskanalysis.com/home-eng

The migration of a mennonite colony to Colombia's eastern plains is a little-known story worthy of greater coverage due to the environmental and social impacts this has had on the region and the traditional communities found here.

And yet, hardly anyone has heard about it.

On this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast (available wherever you get your podcasts), Oscar Parra from Rutas del Conflicto - a website dedicated to bringing you stories about the Colombian conflict not covered in the mainstream press - and journalist Natalia Malaver join me to discuss this topic.

Hear about the history of the Mennonites in Colombia, their use of a portion of land here, what they are producing and why the Colombian authorities look the other way as deforestation takes place in the name of progress.

The Colombia News Brief is reported by journalist Emily Hart.

Check out:
www.rutasdelconflicto.com
and
https://www.instagram.com/greenlybachue/