Surviving Pablo : the rise of the tourism industry surrounding Colombia’s most powerful drug lord

Pablo Escobar was once the reason why international tourists feared traveling to Colombia. Now, more than two decades after his death in 1993, Colombia has become one of Latin America’s most popular tourist destinations, and Escobar is a major tourist draw for the city of Medellín. Enterprising locals have capitalized on the intrigue surrounding the internationally infamous drug lord, devising tours to various sites in the city associated with him and his Medellín Cartel. The success of Netflix’s “Narcos” series has only increased travelers' demand for additional Escobar-themed tourist opportunities, yet residents remain divided over Escobar’s legacy and these tours. While some view the tours as lucrative business opportunities, others fear that such businesses only reinforce the stereotypes of violence and drug-prevalence that Colombia has long fought to overcome.