Sowing the future of sports tourism in Juan de Acosta, Colombia
Alex's vision of Suelta la Barra
Hey there, SUELTALABARRA family! I'm Alex , and today I want to take you with me on a journey that fills me with energy and hope: the one that connected me with an incredible project in Juan de Acosta, Colombia. If you follow me here, you already know that I live and breathe sports, especially kitesurfing, and that my mission is to spread that passion and show how sport can be a true engine of change.
Recently, I had the privilege of participating in a talk that left my heart happy, with people with incredible vision: Andrés Sarmiento , executive manager of the Latin American Sports Tourism Network , Farid Martínez , professor of tourism and entrepreneurship and local coordinator of the seedbed , Melissa Arteta , executive secretary of the network , and a group of brilliant students from the institution in Juan de Acosta, Colombia The meeting focused on the development of sports tourism in Juan de Acosta, the importance of the community in event planning, and the business opportunities arising from the circular economy and local collaboration. .
The Spark in Juan de Acosta: Beyond Kitesurfing and the Problems
Andrés explained to me the reality of Juan de Acosta, a municipality with limited economic resources and a strong dependence on external tourism. I was shocked to learn that the nautical sector does not belong to the municipal or government administration, but to a private entity. This means that sporting events often come from outside, from cities like Barranquilla, without generating significant income for the local community. . They reminded me of what Melissa and I had already talked about regarding the Kitesurfing World Cup, where even the food court and entrepreneurs were from outside of Juan de Acosta. .
Faced with this situation, the Latin American Sports Tourism Network has been strengthening the community network around sports tourism, creating the sports tourism table and now this seedbed The seedbed has a particularity: it has private and public alliances As a network, they teach the methodology, train young people and formulate projects. .
The heart of this is a nursery where the participating children are between 15 and 17 years old. The network works directly with the region's youth to promote sports tourism from a community perspective, that is, one that originates in the region itself. That's key! Students will have the opportunity to conduct joint workshops with young people from nurseries in Costa Rica and Chile. .
Two sporting events with a focus on water sports are being organized for January and February of next year. Farid, the local coordinator, emphasized that they had been thinking about creating something like this for some time and that, fortunately, with Andrés and the network, they have the opportunity to participate in this type of project. It seemed like a very ambitious project to me from a distance. .
Sustainability: Our compass for the future
One of the things that resonated most with me, and that I always defend at SUELTALABARRA, is the 100% sustainable approach of this seedbed We're not just talking about taking care of the environment, which is essential and something we all should do. We are talking about economic and sociocultural sustainability. We want this to continue over time, for the events to leave their mark, and for Juan de Acosta to not only depend on one kite season, but for other disciplines to flourish throughout the year. .
Imagine the impact of these young people becoming local leaders , diversifying the offering and creating an ecosystem where sports tourism generates employment, development, and community pride. That's the long-term vision we're striving for, and it motivates me immensely! The seedbed aims to promote sports tourism as a driver of economic development in Juan de Acosta, involving the local community in organizing events and creating sustainable products. .
My contribution: Experience, connection, and the 5 key points.
During the talk, I was able to share my experience organizing sporting events. I emphasized the need for detailed planning and efficient resource management. I told you about the Loteta Cierzo Festival in Zaragoza, Spain, a small event with 75 participants that has generated a significant economic impact on the local community. I explained to them how an initial study, a lot of publicity, the support of sponsors and public entities (who know that a sustainable economy is generated around them) , have made tourism last all year round in an inland town We have reached values of 10,000 euros (about 5 million Colombian pesos) in the event, but the impact is much greater due to the money invested in advertising before, during and after the event, which is double the contribution of local entities and sponsorships. Now, hotels are filled with 200 people, and people want to come back for the sustainability of the event and the natural resource of wind. .
I also told you about giants like the Nayarit Wind Festival in Mexico, with 400 participants and activities like dinghy sailing, windfoiling and wingfoiling. , or the Red Bull King of the Air in Cape Verde, in southern Africa, which is the largest kiteboarding event, moving incalculable sums and attracting all brands and competitors internationally I explained to them how places that once relied on agriculture and fishing, or were inhospitable deserts like Fuerteventura and Dakhla in Africa, are now wealthy populations thanks to sports tourism and water sports. That's the power of our sport!
I stressed the importance of creating a symbiosis with the population , of uniting sport with local culture. If an event is a complete festival, where people come not just for the breeze, but for the music, the food, the local craft exhibits... then they want to come back! And that's where the magic of recurring tourism is created.
To summarize what I've said, I've noted five key points for the success and sustainability of these projects:
- Importance of planning and management: It requires detailed planning, efficient resource management, and effective coordination. Logistics, security, promotion, and accounting are the four pillars that support it. .
- Event sustainability: Not only environmental, but also economic. It must be sustainable during the event and throughout the year, creating a symbiosis so that participants return and find quality services. The culture of the population is fundamental for this to flow. .
- Promotion and marketing: Essential before, during, and after the event You need to be promoting your business throughout the year on social media, in brochures, in restaurants, and in hotels. .
- Impact Analysis: It is vital to account for post-event marketing to present sponsors and organizations with ROI (return on money contributed). This shows that if they invested 5,000 pesos and generated 20,000, they will want to invest 10,000 to generate 40,000. .
- Financial management: It is crucial for the economy to function and be financially sustainable. The money generated must be reinvested the following year to ensure multiplying growth. .
Collaboration and the Future: Together on Air
I got the impression that these guys have incredible energy. Their questions about how to identify business opportunities in water sports, even in light winds (paddle boarding and kayaking to the rescue!) They demonstrate that they have their minds firmly planted in their land and focused on the future. I loved the idea of involving local seamstresses in creating products with recycled materials from damaged kites. That's a real circular economy!
At SUELTALABARRA, my commitment is to stay connected, support these projects, and, as always, shout from the rooftops that sport has immense transformative potential. What is germinating in Juan de Acosta is a seed from which we can all learn, an example of how we can empower new generations to lead a sustainable and vibrant future for their communities.
As I told Andrés and Farid, I am grateful for this opportunity to share my experiences. If my contributions are sufficient and you believe I can contribute more or offer another approach, I am at your disposal. In fact, Andrés told me that I will be a bridge for these ventures to reach Europe. That makes me proud!
So, if you have the opportunity to plant a seed in your community, do it! You never know what great project can emerge from that small action. See you on the water or in the air!
Alex, the face behind SUELTALABARRA.com
