Descripción

The exponential growth of tourism has captured the attention of many emerging economies, seeing in this activity, an opportunity to generate dynamic economic fluids in the territories. In the Colombian case, this trend has achieved to occupy a leading role in development plans, to the point of being considered ‘the new oil’, referring to its potential. Thus, the present manuscript, with a mixed character approach - because it involves qualitative and quantitative tools -, presents the perceptions and imaginations of the inhabitants and authorities of Belén de los Andaquíes about tourism, as an economic activity. The findings show that documentary realities (development plans) are far from social contexts, as well as opinions found, fears and uncertainties in the territory, which must be effectively intervened through educational processes.