Cartagena Mayor reports tourism growth and challenges energy hikes

Cartagena Mayor Dumek Turbay Paz has addressed two distinct local issues regarding the city's economy and utility regulations.

Regarding tourism, Turbay refuted claims of a decline, stating that the city has seen an unprecedented arrival of over 4 million visitors as of September 2026. He reported a 3.8% increase in air arrivals and a 25.1% increase in land arrivals. The mayor attributed this growth to promotional strategies led by Corpoturismo and the local tourism secretariat, while emphasizing the need for infrastructure projects and the new Bayunca airport to meet rising demand.

On the issue of utilities, Turbay has filed a lawsuit to nullify Resolution 101-126 from the Commission for the Regulation of Energy and Gas. The resolution imposes additional charges of over 10% for energy consumption exceeding historical averages. The mayor is seeking a suspension of the measure from the Council of State, arguing that the regulation lacks technical foundation and fails to account for the specific climatic and geographic conditions of the Caribbean region.