Bogotá Designates BTS as 'Honorary Foreign Guests'... Performance Effects Projected at 40.6 Billion Won

The Mayor's Office of Bogotá, Colombia, has designated BTS as 'Honorary Foreign Guests.' According to media reports, the city officially set them as subjects of formal courtesy through Decree 413 of 2026 on September 30, local time. This honor is bestowed by the mayor upon prominent visitors who have contributed to citizen welfare or urban development in fields such as politics, public service, arts, sports, science, and education. It is reported that such a designation has not occurred in about 10 years.

The Mayor's Office of Bogotá cited the background of the selection as BTS, who debuted in 2013, raising the international status of Korean music and culture and exerting influence on the younger generation. They expected that their visit would also help promote Bogotá as a hub for culture and creative industries and a city where global events are held. Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said, “BTS is more than just a band. We hope those attending the concert and those visiting Bogotá experience the city itself.” He continued, “The Mayor's Office of Bogotá recognizes that BTS's visit is a special event for the city, and we will welcome them here as 'Honorary Foreign Guests.'”

The tourism observatory under the Bogotá Tourism Office predicted that the spending on food and beverages, accommodation, local transportation, shopping, and souvenirs by audiences attending the two performances held on October 2–3 will reach 99 billion Colombian pesos, which is more than approximately 40.6 billion won. Flight reservations have also increased. From September 30 to October 4, around the time of the performance, reservations to Bogotá increased by 46.6% compared to the same period last year. Domestic flights increased by 59.3%, and international flights increased by 39.5%.

18.4% of the tickets were sold in countries outside of Colombia. This is about twice the level of the overseas purchase proportion for general concerts held locally. The Mayor's Office of Bogotá plans to illuminate the City Hall and the representative landmark, Torre Colpatria, with purple lights. During the performances on October 2–3, eight additional public transportation routes heading to major areas from stations near the venue will be operated to help the audience return home. Dispatch schedules will be adjusted according to actual demand.

Bogotá is the first stop of BTS's South America tour. This is the first time BTS is holding a full-group performance in Colombia. After the Bogotá performance, they will visit Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil.

Special Times is striving to deliver faster and more diverse news to readers with the help of AI technology.