Since 2012, Colombia made official the beginning of the peace deal or at least the first discussions around this so wished process (If we remember the war has accompanied the country for more than 50 years).

Juan Manuel Santos’ government took the first step, once they were all on the same page, they decided the places for these cycle of meetings were going to be Oslo (Norway) and La Habana (Cuba).

It’s been more than 4 years since the very first day of the official start of the conversations regarding the possible accord between Colombian guerillas (FARC) and the Colombian state, there have been interruptions on the way nonetheless, 2016 has been so far the year they’ve been the closest to the end of the armed conflict.

By hearing these good news, many media sources have already started talking about the endless touristic possibilities Colombia will get once the peace deal is signed. And here is where the paradox starts.

Colombia is a country full of hidden paradises, unexplored woods, lonely beaches, seas, lakes and many other landscapes that have remained untouched until today, inaccessible and forgotten over decades because of the war.

Then, tourism is going to flourish if everything ends up as planned. There are already discussions and some plans over the constructions of roads that can lead us to these unbelievable destinations.

Colombian touristic association president Gustavo Toro, expressed how the future of the tourism in the country is going to change with the peace deal, being able to access regions with invaluable richness and diversity where guerillas have had presence.

He also added: “The country is going through a very important moment, full of hope and expectations, this is something we cannot underestimate. All representatives of the touristic sector and regionals administrations must think about action plans that can make of these places an appealing destinations, we have to bet for the work generation and for strategic plans for the future”.

The questions right now is: Will the end of the Colombian armed conflict end with the flawless condition of these places?

From the thick woods in Chocó, going through the amazingly high waterfalls in Putumayo to the Mavecure hills in Guainía. From one the most beautiful rivers in the world in Caño Cristales to the beaches, lakes and banana plantations in Urabá.

Other regions that have not been directly affected by the war are right now facing unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, widespread species extinction and deforestation, and high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in the oceans because of human actions.

Indisputably, the end of the war is going to bring more positive than negative conditions to the whole country and the Colombian society, included the touristic industry, so the reflection right now is to keep preserving these landscapes just as they are, to be aware of the richness and the beauty of the nature. It is matter of fact that we don’t need violence to take care of what is ours.

Manuela Pulido