Socio-Spatial Segregation And The Integrating Processes Of Tourism Geography In Popular Neighborhoods Of The Colombian Andean Region

Abstract

The socio-spatial segregation of low-income neighborhoods in the Colombian Andean region leads to urban exclusion, precarious infrastructure, and a weakening of the social fabric, negatively impacting territorial integration, local development opportunities, and the quality of life of residents. The geography of tourism is considered an alternative approach to mitigate the impacts of this phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to shape urban integration from the perspective of tourism geography in low-income neighborhoods of the Colombian Andean region. The research employs an exploratory qualitative approach, using a neighborhood that has undergone decades of socio-spatial segregation as a case study. The study identified perceptions of exclusion, meanings associated with the place, and tourism potential linked to local identity and the natural environment. The findings demonstrate that the symbolic recognition of the territory and the activation of community-based tourism practices strengthen social cohesion and urban integration. It is concluded that the geography of tourism is a relevant tool for promoting integrative processes in contexts of socio-spatial segregation in the Colombian Andean region, and that its results contribute to decision-making for the development of tourism activities as a strategy for integrating segregated popular neighborhoods in the Colombian Andean region.