While some indigenous groups allegedly have givene their approval of a massive resort project on the Caribbean beach of Tayrona National Park last week, another resident tribe rejected the project Wednesday.
Ecotourism company Six Senses has faced ongoing controversy over building a seven star hotel in one of Colombia’s gems, Tayrona National Park. The company is now confronted with indigenous groups who inhabit the Caribbean coastal area, with various native tribes divided on the issue of the proposed beach resort.
Last week three of the four indigenous tribes living in Tayrona National Park, the Kogi, Wiwa Arhuacos and the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta publicly announced their support of the project, according to newspaper El Tiempo, who quoted the tribe leaders as saying that the project “shares the same vision for conservation and management of ancestral territory” and “that the project is committed to respect the holy places.”
However, despite the alleged support of some tribes, the Kankuamo tribe who also reside in the area largely disagree and condemn the resort project that will be built on sacred grounds. A spokesperson from the Kankuamo tribe said that their position is “untouchable and nonnegotiable of the sacred sites, they are our true Mamos [sacred law] and therefore support everything that exists in mother nature,” Newspaper Semana reported.
The Six Senses company has built resorts all over the world in Thailand, Oman, Vietnam and Maldives, they have been seeking the Tayrona resort approval for months. They claim to be “sustainable luxury,” simultaneously respecting environmental conservation while providing lavish vacation spots for tourists.
