Colombia, Mexico and Peru are pushing Latin America deeper into the era of smart tourism, with destinations increasingly using digital tools, data, sustainability and accessibility to reshape how visitors experience cities and regions. The model being adopted across the region is based on Spain’s SEGITTUR Smart Tourist Destination methodology, which places five pillars at the centre of tourism management: governance, innovation, technology, sustainability and accessibility. Colombia has emerged as a regional leader, with Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga and Salento recognised under the methodology, while Peru is implementing the framework through national pilot destinations.
Key Stats: Latin America’s Smart Tourism Shift
- 5 pillars: Governance, innovation, technology, sustainability and accessibility underpin the SEGITTUR methodology.
- 5 Colombian destinations: Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga and Salento have received recognition under the model.
- 2 Peruvian destinations: Arequipa and Cajamarca have achieved the DTI Adhered recognition.
- 3 Peruvian pilots: Peru’s national programme is structured around three pilot destinations through 2027.
- 90 indicators: Colombia is developing a national measurement framework for smart destinations through NTC 6750.
- 2026: Peru approved a national technical standard for managing Smart Tourist Destinations.
Smart Tourism Moves Beyond Technology
The phrase “smart tourism” might sound like it is all about apps, sensors and digital maps.
It is not.
The SEGITTUR framework treats technology as one component of a broader destination-management system. The objective is to combine digital infrastructure with better governance, sustainability, accessibility and innovation.
That means a destination can use data to understand visitor flows, technology to improve access to information, sustainability measures to manage natural resources and governance systems to coordinate public authorities, businesses and local communities.
The visitor experience becomes part of a much larger management equation.
Colombia Builds a Regional Smart Tourism Network
Colombia has become one of the strongest examples of the model’s expansion in Latin America.
According to Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga and Salento are recognised destinations under the Smart Tourist Destination methodology. The ministry describes Colombia as the Latin American country with the largest number of destinations officially recognised under SEGITTUR’s methodology.
The country is also developing the Colombian Network of Smart Tourist Destinations, designed around the five pillars of sustainability, accessibility, innovation, technology and governance.
This approach allows different destinations to work within a common framework while responding to their own tourism characteristics.
Medellín Puts Innovation Into Tourism
Medellín is particularly relevant to the smart tourism movement because the city has already developed a broader reputation around innovation and urban transformation.
Its participation in the smart destination network connects digital development with tourism management, accessibility and sustainability.
For visitors, this can translate into better digital information, more coordinated tourism services and improved access to attractions.
The model also allows destinations to use information more effectively when managing visitor demand.
That becomes increasingly important as popular cities deal with congestion during major events and peak travel periods.
Bogotá Expands the Urban Tourism Model
Bogotá brings the smart destination concept into one of Latin America’s largest urban tourism markets.
The Colombian capital combines museums, gastronomy, heritage neighbourhoods, cultural venues and surrounding natural attractions.
Managing such a complex destination requires coordination between tourism authorities, transport systems, businesses and local communities.
Smart destination principles provide a framework for bringing those elements together, while data can help authorities understand where visitors travel, when demand peaks and where infrastructure needs improvement.
Salento Adds Nature and Rural Tourism
The inclusion of Salento in Quindío demonstrates that smart tourism is not limited to major metropolitan areas.
Salento is closely associated with the Cocora Valley, coffee culture and rural landscapes, giving it a tourism profile very different from Bogotá or Medellín.
Applying smart destination principles here means combining digital accessibility with environmental management and sustainable visitor flows.
That is particularly relevant to nature destinations, where increasing visitor numbers can place pressure on ecosystems and local infrastructure.
Mexico Has Been Part of the Smart Tourism Story for Years
Mexico’s involvement with the smart destination concept stretches back more than a decade.
In 2015, Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism and SEGITTUR worked together to develop a Mexican Smart Tourist Destination model, with Cozumel selected as the country’s pilot destination. The initiative described Cozumel as the first Smart Island outside Europe under the programme.
Tequila, Jalisco, has also become an important reference point in Mexico’s digital tourism development, including georeferenced tourism initiatives designed to connect visitors with local attractions and experiences.
The country’s experience demonstrates how smart tourism can be adapted to destinations built around heritage, gastronomy, nature and local identity.
Peru Turns Smart Tourism Into National Policy
Peru is now taking the model further through a structured national programme.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, MINCETUR, began implementing the SEGITTUR methodology in late 2024 through three planned pilot destinations.
Arequipa became the country’s first DTI Adhered destination in July 2025, after meeting more than 20% of the methodology’s criteria.
Cajamarca subsequently became the second Peruvian destination to receive DTI Adhered recognition in July 2026.
The framework is now becoming part of national tourism management rather than remaining a single-city experiment.
Technology Meets Sustainability
The biggest tourism-management change is the connection between technology and sustainability.
Data can help destinations understand visitor movement, while digital services can distribute information and encourage travellers towards less crowded attractions.
Accessibility is equally important.
The smart destination model requires tourism infrastructure and services to become more usable for different groups of visitors, creating a more inclusive tourism environment.
For residents, the model also focuses on quality of life, recognising that destinations are not simply products for visitors but places where people live.
Why Data Matters to Tourism
Data is becoming increasingly important as Latin American destinations handle growing and more diverse visitor demand.
Tourism authorities can use information to monitor accommodation, visitor patterns, transport, attractions and seasonal pressure.
Colombia’s proposed NTC 6750 framework includes 90 indicators designed to measure the maturity of smart tourism destinations.
That creates a more standardised way to evaluate progress rather than relying entirely on visitor numbers.
Travel Guide: Exploring Smart Destinations
Travellers can experience smart tourism across very different environments.
Bogotá and Medellín offer major urban and cultural tourism experiences, while Salento provides access to Colombia’s coffee landscapes.
In Mexico, Tequila combines gastronomy, heritage and agave culture, while Cozumel brings smart-island tourism together with marine experiences.
In Peru, Arequipa combines colonial heritage and gastronomy, while Cajamarca offers cultural, historical and natural attractions.
International travellers should check current entry requirements, transport options and destination-specific tourism information before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Smart Tourist Destination?
It is a destination-management model combining governance, innovation, technology, sustainability and accessibility.
2. Which Colombian destinations are recognised under the model?
Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga and Salento are currently recognised under Colombia’s smart tourism framework.
3. Which Peruvian destinations have achieved recognition?
Arequipa became the first in 2025, followed by Cajamarca in 2026.
Timeline and Events
- 2015: Mexico and SEGITTUR established cooperation to develop a Mexican Smart Tourist Destination model, with Cozumel selected as a pilot.
- 2024: Peru began implementing the SEGITTUR methodology through a national pilot programme.
- July 2025: Arequipa became Peru’s first DTI-adhered destination.
- October 2025: Cajamarca was formally presented as Peru’s second DTI pilot.
- February 2026: Peru approved NTP 799.022:2026, establishing requirements for Smart Tourist Destination management.
- May 2026: Peru received international recognition for its progress in smart tourism at FIDI Rio 2026.
- July 2026: Cajamarca became Peru’s second DTI Adhered destination.
Conclusion
Latin America’s smart tourism movement is moving beyond the idea that digitalisation alone makes a destination intelligent. Colombia, Mexico and Peru are increasingly connecting technology with sustainability, accessibility, innovation and governance, creating a broader system for managing tourism and improving visitor experiences. Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Salento, Bucaramanga, Tequila, Arequipa and Cajamarca demonstrate how the model can work across cities, heritage destinations, rural landscapes and island tourism. As more destinations adopt common measurement systems and data-led planning, smart tourism is becoming a practical tool for making Latin America’s tourism growth more accessible, sustainable and better managed.
