BTS Designated as 'Honorary Guests' in Bogotá… Concert Economic Impact Projected to Exceed 40 Billion Won

*This content was translated by AI.

Bogotá, Colombia, has launched city-wide hospitality measures ahead of BTS's first visit as a complete group. Expectations for the economic and tourism effects resulting from the performances are also rising.

The city of Bogotá officially designated BTS as 'Honorary Guests' (Huésped de Honor) through 'Decree No. 413' (Decreto 413 de 2026) on September 30 (all times local). Local media outlet El Universal reported that the designation as 'Honorary Guest' has not occurred in approximately 10 years.

The title of 'Honorary Guest' is an honor bestowed by the Mayor of Bogotá upon distinguished visitors who have contributed to citizen welfare or urban development across various fields, including politics, public services, arts, sports, science, and education. Citing that BTS has contributed to elevating the international standing of Korean music and culture since their debut in 2013 and has exerted influence on younger generations, the city mentioned this as the background for the designation. It also expressed expectations that their visit would help position Bogotá as a hub for cultural and creative industries and a venue for world-class events.

Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, attributed special significance to BTS's visit. He stated, "BTS is more than just a band. We hope that those attending the concert and those visiting Bogotá will experience the city itself." He added, "The city of Bogotá acknowledges that BTS's visit is a special event for the city as well, and we will welcome them as our 'Honorary Guests' here."

BTS's performances are expected to bring significant ripple effects to Bogotá's economy and tourism. The Tourism Observatory (Observatorio de Turismo de Bogotá), under the Bogotá Tourism Institute (Instituto Distrital de Turismo), projected that audience spending on food and beverage, accommodation, local transportation, shopping, and souvenirs for the two concerts scheduled for the 2nd and 3rd would exceed 99 billion Colombian pesos (approximately 40.6 billion won).

Air demand has also increased significantly. Airline reservations to Bogotá from September 30 to October 4, surrounding the performances, rose by 46.6% compared to the same period last year. Domestic flight reservations increased by 59.3%, while international flights rose by 39.5%. Tickets for 18.4% of the concert were sold in countries outside Colombia, a proportion approximately twice as high as the overseas purchase rate for typical concerts held locally.

The city of Bogotá will dye various parts of the city purple to commemorate BTS's visit. City Hall and the iconic landmark Torre Colpatria are scheduled to be illuminated in purple. On the 2nd and 3rd, when the performances take place, additional public transportation routes will be operated for audiences. The city will activate eight routes from stations near the venue to major local areas, timed with the concert end times. It plans to adjust vehicle dispatch based on actual usage demand to ensure that large crowds can return home smoothly.

Bogotá, Colombia, is the starting point of BTS's South American tour. This marks their first performance as a complete group in Colombia. They will subsequently visit Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil.

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*This content was translated by AI.