[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] Bogotá, Colombia, has launched a city-wide hospitality campaign ahead of the concert for the group BTS’s “ARIRANG” world tour.

According to their agency, Big Hit Music, on the 2nd, the city of Bogotá officially designated BTS as “Honorary Guests” through Decree No. 413 on the 30th of last month (all times local).
The title of “Honorary Guest” is an honor bestowed by the Mayor of Bogotá upon distinguished visitors who have contributed to the welfare of citizens or the city’s development in various fields, including politics, public service, the arts, sports, science, and education.
The City of Bogotá recognized BTS as a group that has elevated the international standing of Korean music and culture and exerted a significant influence on the younger generation, expressing hope that their visit would serve as an opportunity to promote Bogotá as a hub for cultural and creative industries and a venue for global events.
According to a report by the local media outlet El Universal, this is the first time in about 10 years that the City of Bogotá has designated someone as an “Honorary Guest.” Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán stated, “BTS is more than just a band. Their visit will be a special event.”
There are also projections that BTS’s concert will have a significant ripple effect on Bogotá’s economy and tourism. The Tourism Observatory, under the Bogotá Tourism Board, estimates that audience members’ spending on food and beverages, lodging, local transportation, shopping, and souvenirs during the two-day concert will exceed 99 billion Colombian pesos (approximately 40.6 billion KRW).
Flight bookings to Bogotá for the five days before and after the concert (September 30–October 4) increased by 46.6% compared to the same period last year. Domestic flight bookings rose by 59.3%, while international flight bookings increased by 39.5%. 18.4% of concert tickets were sold outside Colombia, which is approximately twice the proportion of international ticket sales for a typical concert held in Bogotá.
To commemorate BTS’s visit, the city of Bogotá is lighting up various locations throughout the city in purple, the group’s signature color. City Hall and the iconic Torre Colpatria will be illuminated in purple, and on the days of the concerts, public transportation will run more frequently to facilitate audience travel.
This marks the first time BTS will perform as a full group in Colombia. After kicking off the South American leg of their world tour in Colombia, they will visit Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil.