Back from the brink: Social transformation and developing tourism in post-conflict Medellin, Colombia

Abstract

Purpose

Emerging from 20 years of violence and terrorism, the city of Medellin, Colombia, has used social transformation to improve civic culture, leading to a renaissance. The purpose of this study is to explore how social transformation can lead to urban transformation, forming the basis for sustainable, post-conflict tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study is based on available descriptive data and direct observation supported by secondary sources.

Findings

The results of the research help to provide a better understanding of the conditions needed to develop and manage sustainable tourism in post-conflict environments. In so doing, it should be possible to make better policy decisions, with particular reference to social and urban interventions on planning, design and entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

The transformation of Medellin’s civic culture can be a model for destination with similar histories that present significant destination image and branding challenges – though each will take different paths.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first on post-conflict tourism that analyzes the impact on a destination and country of internal turmoil due to narco-terrorism and insurgency over a lengthy period.

Citation

Castillo-Palacio, M., Harrill, R. and Zuñiga-Collazos, A. (2017), "Back from the brink: Social transformation and developing tourism in post-conflict Medellin, Colombia", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 300-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-02-2017-0012