Most Colombians are able to trace their roots to a mix of three original ancestors: American Indians, European (mostly Spanish) settlers, and Africans. Even so, each community’s traditions and customs showcase their own distinct nuances after being passed through generations for centuries. Like Colombia’s notable biodiversity, its anthropological wonders must also be preserved, especially in at-risk regions with disappearing languages and traditions. That’s where community-based tourism comes in.

Considering Colombia’s remarkable success with sustainable tourism, it’s only fitting that ProColombia will co-host the Meaningful Travel Summit in 2021 with travel organizations Tourism Cares, Impulse Travel, and the Medellín CVB.

The event, hosted in Medellín, will feature over a dozen esteemed speakers and impact leaders to shine a spotlight on how sustainable travel can continue to strengthen communities around the world.

The thought-provoking discussions will cover topics from political justice to environmental conservation, with perspectives from both travel professionals and local changemakers who see community-based travel as an effective way to curtail the detrimental environmental and social impacts often associated with mass tourism.

In Colombia, these initiatives have created dignified livelihoods, preserved at-risk cultures, modernized stagnant job markets, and fueled investment into the right places. The proof is in the pudding—or arroz con leche, if you will.