Nature tourism in Quindío (Colombia): towards governance for its development

Abstract

Introduction: Nature tourism has emerged as a key alternative for the development in regions with significant ecological and cultural wealth, such as Quindío, Colombia, known for its coffee cultural landscape. Objective: To identify the challenges of nature tourism from an economic perspective, and propose governance strategies for its development. Methodology: A qualitative approach was used through workshops and focus groups with actors from the academic, business, government, and civil society sectors. Barriers such as insufficient physical and digital infrastructure, institutional fragmentation, and low normative appropriation were explored. Results: It is proposed to strengthen governance with inter-institutional coordination mechanisms, citizen participation, and multi-actor models; update territorial planning instruments; promote innovation in differentiated tourism products; and to improve the link between public, private, and community actors. Discussion: The rural digital divide and political-institutional fragmentation limit access to markets, coordination, and value capture, consistent with national and international evidence. Conclusion: The development of nature tourism in Quindío, requires participatory and comprehensive governance that integrates environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and structural investment, aligned with the cultural coffee landscape, and the strengthens local capabilities with participatory monitoring.