A relevant case of study - COLOMBIA - Valentina Varela Quintero

When you think about Colombia, you usually create associations with drugs trade, kidnapping, murder, trafficking, cocaine, among others. This usually causes terror and panic for foreign people who want to visit the country but are afraid of doing it due to the background of its safety that has been frightening and driving away tourists for years.

Pablo Escobar was for years considered as the most ruthless and dangerous man on the planet, until 1993 when he was finally murdered. He was the leader and boss of the most famous cartel of Medellin, in charge of a huge chain of drug trafficking, murders including car bombs and drive-by shootings and numerous actions that although they were really negative and terrifying, he was considered in the city as a figure who deserves respect and gratitude just because of the fact that he donated millions to the poor people of Medellin and used this technique of helping them to keep the locals loyal.

Nowadays, there are numerous Pablo Escobar themed tours in Medellin, that give the tourists the opportunity of knowing and learning more about him and his crimes. This tours take place in locations where he committed some murder, kidnapping or attempt and also include talks with people who have something to do with the topic or who have somehow a connection with Pablo Escobar and the Medellin cartel. One example of this tours is explained in the Netflix TV show Dark Tourist, in which Pablo Escobar hired assassin is interviewed and he explains how they used to work together and how was Pablo Escobar as a friend and partner of job.

Valentina Varela Quintero