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5 clusters · 15 sources · 48 days · First seen · Last updated

Santa Marta tourism and urban development expansion

Overview

In July 2026, Santa Marta celebrated its 501st anniversary with the week-long Fiesta del Mar. Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello declared several civic holidays and implemented security and mobility measures to manage visitors. The festivities included a diverse program of gospel concerts, vallenato shows, and nautical competitions, headlined by artists such as Beéle.

The city’s anniversary also served as a platform for discussing future development. Local leaders emphasized the need for coordinated action between municipal and national authorities to accelerate infrastructure, water, and mobility projects. Parallel to these cultural events, the city is seeing significant investment in tourism infrastructure, such as the Playa Santúa megaproject by Grupo AR.

To support the ‘Santa Marta 500+’ development plan, the municipal administration underwent a leadership reshuffle in August 2026. Economist Ana Matilde Juvinao Carbonóes was appointed Secretary of Planning to focus on project structuring and investment. Safuat Atunes Celedón transitioned to the role of City Manager to coordinate government departments and monitor priority projects. Additionally, Hussein Ghotme was named acting Secretary of Security, tasked with strengthening public safety and institutional prevention strategies.

Entities

Santa Marta · César Ahumada · Marriott International · Rafael Manjarrez · Ana Matilde Juvinao Carbonóes

Timeline

  1. 23 days ago

    [CULTURE] 7 sources
    Santa Marta focuses on urban development and cultural tourism

    Santa Marta, Colombia, is focusing on strategic urban planning to preserve its heritage while offering free cultural and coastal tourism through its historic district and public natural spaces.

  2. 24 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Santa Marta administration undergoes leadership changes

    Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello has appointed new leaders in Santa Marta, including Ana Matilde Juvinao for Planning, Safuat Atunes Celedón as City Manager, and Hussein Ghotme as acting Secretary of Security.

  3. about 1 month ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Santa Marta celebrates 501st anniversary with cultural honors and development initiatives

    Santa Marta marked its 501st anniversary, linking historic pride with new development plans, while Sayco leaders Rafael Manjarrez and César Ahumada were honored for advancing music rights.

  4. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Santa Marta tourism megaproject advances as Colombia's short‑stay rentals soar

    Grupo AR's Playa Santúa project in Santa Marta moves ahead while Colombia’s short‑stay rentals surge 635 %, boosting tourism revenues to a record US$9.4 billion in 2025.

  5. 2 months ago

    [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Santa Marta kicks off 2026 Fiesta del Mar for city's 501st anniversary

    Santa Marta’s Fiesta del Mar runs 23‑29 July 2026, marking the city’s 501st anniversary with civic holidays, security measures and performances by Beéle and other artists.

Sources

elcallejero.co · elespectador.com · elpaisvallenato.com · idpc.gov.co · kajgana.com · metroecuador.com.ec · noticiasenvenezuela.com · nxt.kristianstadsbladet.se · ojopelaomagazine.co · opinioncaribe.com · primicia.com.ve · seguimiento.co · vallenatofm.com · valoraanalitik.com · world-today-news.com

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history