Environmental, visual, and noise pollution in the Historic Center of Cartagena de Indias.

Environmental, visual, and noise pollution in the Historic Center of Cartagena de Indias.

The phenomenon of environmental pollution is a factor that definitely affects the entire world's population, and the people of Cartagena and its visitors are no exception. Beyond being a prominent tourist attraction or destination given its history, culture, beaches, landscapes, monuments, and tangible and intangible heritage, Cartagena de Indias, as the capital city, is no exception to being a victim or focus of pollution in its various forms. 

Not only that, without diminishing all these strengths or tourist attractions, when we look closely at the harsh reality, Cartagena de Indias, declared as Cultural World Heritage Site in 1984 by UNESCO, reveals a completely bleak panorama. This undoubtedly contrasts with the subtle general perception of architectural opulence and refined romanticism, with a mixture of poverty, insecurity, and pollution. Therefore, we will focus on the impact of pollution and the health problems this situation can cause, with residents, animals, and tourists being the most affected by this social catastrophe. 

• Sewer Overflow: We found that the sewer system has collapsed due to the increase in construction, the conversion of homes into hotels and hostels, and the massive arrival of tourists. Therefore, the outdated drainage system is not functioning properly because it has not been updated to meet the new demands of the growing tourism industry. 

• Garbage on the streets: There is evident pollution, with a variety of waste, garbage, bags, bottles, plastics, cups, glass, cardboard, and other items littering some streets. Some strong, foul, and unpleasant odors can be perceived. This is due to poor garbage disposal and a lack of culture. This is also due to the presence of some homeless people and animals rummaging through this waste. • People Negligence: Serious negligence on the part of the city's residents, who mismanage household waste, disposing of it in certain public places, and, of course, harming the environment. 

 • Street vendors: Special mention should be made of street vendors and their proper food handling, as well as good hygiene and quality practices when handling food and beverages, whether street vendors or in stores. 

• Danger in the sidewalks (streets): On some streets, potholes, uneven ground, dampness, loose wires, broken curbs, poor signage, and poorly maintained buildings can be seen, all of which indicate potential damage or harm, as they could cause a serious accident to any pedestrian or visitor. 

 • Noise: The noise in the streets is beyond question. Street performers, loud music from commercial establishments, and street vendors advertising their products create noise pollution that is increasingly increasing and bothersome for people passing through the Historic Center.

 

Possible solutions proposed to the identified situations 

To avoid becoming a city where tourism is practically unsustainable, it is essential to maintain the commitment not only of government authorities but also of the city's residents and visitors. We call on all District entities committed to the control, preservation, and defense of the Historic Center to exercise political oversight. The economic sectors that directly benefit from tourism have a tremendous commitment to mitigating negative effects on the environment, whether through managing and/or articulating the corresponding regulations or laws that implement measures to reduce environmental impacts and seeking best practices in sector processes that further reduce environmental impacts. 

 It is important to raise awareness through social campaigns so that we can empower ourselves with knowledge of our region's environment and participate more actively in environmental conservation processes in our daily lives. It is essential to research and implement innovative practices for environmental care, mobilize for environmental protection, and legislate to ensure that laws and programs exist that promote environmental development in the community, especially in schools. These are some of the challenges we must address now with our population at all levels of society. 

 In conclusion, we can affirm that environmental pollution is definitely a global problem that affects us as a tourist destination, but above all, our health. Citizens and the government must take all legal action against these types of problems, which, in addition to affecting the population and the tourism industry, also impact the economy. As for our city, Cartagena de Indias, especially the Historic Center, it is time to conserve and care for it decisively, and not pollute it further. 

 Until Next time! 

 Alexander Bonilla Silva