Colombia, the second most biodiverse country in the world, could be the destination of choice for meeting planners keen to add that backdrop of geographical sustainability and diversity. The country has recently committed to reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The national promotion agency of Colombia, ProColombia, which is part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, is well aware that meeting planners and PCO’s are seeing a growing demand for evidence of such initiatives when clients are planning an event, so is driving a new policy to target sustainability. It has three main areas:
- Work with local communities and businesses to involve, educate and encourage them to contribute to discussions and projects regarding climate change. Protect the environment.
- Innovate – offer more opportunities and experiences for travellers around sustainability and diversity.
- Working with the traveller – so promoting the destination, raising awareness of the diversity and the importance of being green etc, and partnering with organisations such as WWF WTTC and other partners around the world.
ProColombia offers the opportunity to be involved in many worthwhile diversity projects. One such example: is the Betania Social Work Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that offers housing projects for vulnerable and low-income people in the city of Manizales as well as medical, health and nutrition advice. 
Volunteers share time with young people through activities such as dancing, soccer, singing, photography, painting and more. The foundation also supports a restaurant for the elderly where they can eat, meet and socialise. In terms of plant life, Colombia is listed as one of the world’s ‘megadiverse’ countries and is home to 10% of the planet’s biodiversity. Worldwide, it ranks first in bird and orchid species diversity and second in plants, butterflies, freshwater fish, and other amphibians. Colombia now boasts daily flights from London, as well as Germany France, the USA and other European hubs and altogether offers more than 900 weekly international flights. Colombia has climbed three places in ICCA rankings and is now in the Top 30 of its MICE country rankings for MICE. In all, Colombia has six cities in the ICCA city rankings.In terms of ethnic diversity, Colombia also has a proud heritage, boasting 87 ethnic groups and 65 different languages, and it is the second most ethnically diverse country in the Americas, after Brazil. Part of Colombia’s charm is provided by the diversity of the six natural regions found in this country: The Greater Colombian Caribbean, Colombian Pacific, West Colombian Andes, Eastern Colombian Andes, the Colombian Massif and the Colombian Amazon-Orinoco, each with its own characteristics and customs, gastronomy, and music. 
Colombia is an exotic mix of cultures and fauna and flora offering. a huge choice that can turn any event into a unique and memorable experience. Carmen Caballero, president of ProColombia, tells CMW: “Colombia is number one in bird, butterfly and orchid species, and is the only country in South America with coastlines on both oceans. We have taken advantage of this natural immensity to develop beautiful tourist products that are in tune with the protection and exaltation of our natural and cultural wealth.” “For this reason, at ProColombia we have supported the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Tourism of Colombia in placing sustainability as the central axis of tourism promotion in our country. We are a world power of biodiversity, which means that we are a world power of life.”
