BTS officially designated as 'Honorary Guest' of Bogotá... Performance economic effect expected to be 40.6 billion KRW

BTS is about to hold their first full-group concert in Bogotá, Colombia, and the city of Bogotá has officially designated them as ’Honorary Guests,’ creating a welcoming atmosphere throughout the city. On September 30th, Bogotá selected BTS as ’Honorary Guests’ (Huesped de Honor) through ’Decree 413.’ According to the local media El Universal, this designation was made for the first time in about 10 years. The title of ’Honorary Guest’ is an honor awarded by the mayor of Bogotá to distinguished visitors who have contributed to the city’s development in various fields such as politics, public service, arts, sports, science, and education. Carlos Fernando Galán, mayor of Bogotá, emphasized that BTS’s visit is a special event for the city, stating, ″BTS is more than just a band. We hope those attending the concert and visiting Bogotá will experience the city itself.″ He added, ″Bogotá recognizes that BTS’s visit is a special occasion for the city and will welcome them as ’Honorary Guests.’″ BTS’s concert is expected to have a significant impact on Bogotá’s economy and tourism. The Tourism Observatory under the Bogotá Tourism Office predicted that the amount spent by attendees on food and beverages, accommodation, transportation, shopping, and souvenirs for the two concerts held over 2-3 days will exceed 99 billion Colombian pesos (approximately 40.6 billion Korean won). Additionally, flight bookings to Bogotá from September 30th to October 4th, before and after the concerts, increased by 46.6% compared to the same period last year, with domestic flights up 59.3% and international flights up 39.5%. 18.4% of the concert tickets were sold outside Colombia, about twice the usual proportion of overseas purchases for typical concerts. To commemorate BTS’s visit, Bogotá plans to illuminate major landmarks such as City Hall and Torre Colpatria with purple lighting. On the 2-3 days of the concerts, additional public transportation routes will operate for the convenience of attendees, and eight routes from stations near the venue to major areas will run according to the concert end times. The frequency of service will be adjusted based on actual demand. Bogotá, Colombia, is the starting point of BTS’s South American tour, and this is their first full-group concert in Colombia. After the concert, BTS will visit Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil.