Purple landmark illuminations and extra transit services accompanied two shows expected to generate 99 billion pesos in visitor spending

Bogotá designated BTS as “Guests of Honor” ahead of the group’s first concert in Colombia featuring all seven members.

The city granted the distinction through Decree 413 of 2026, issued on Sept. 30. Colombian media reported that Bogotá had not awarded the honorary designation in approximately a decade.

City officials cited BTS’s role in bringing Korean music and culture to international audiences, as well as the group’s influence on younger generations. Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said the concerts presented an opportunity for visiting fans to experience Bogotá beyond the performance venue.

The Oct. 2 and 3 concerts generated unusually strong demand from overseas audiences. Tickets purchased outside Colombia accounted for 18.4 percent of total sales, approximately twice the international share recorded for a typical concert in the city.

Flight bookings to Bogotá between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4 increased 46.6 percent from the same period a year earlier. Domestic reservations rose 59.3 percent, while international bookings increased 39.5 percent.

Bogotá’s Tourism Observatory estimated that concertgoers would spend more than 99 billion Colombian pesos, or approximately 40.6 billion won, on accommodation, food, transportation, shopping and souvenirs.

The city illuminated Bogotá City Hall and Torre Colpatria in purple, a colour closely associated with BTS and its fandom. Eight additional public transport routes were also scheduled after the concerts, connecting stations near the venue with major areas of the city.

The Bogotá dates opened BTS’s South American tour. Following Colombia, the group is scheduled to perform in Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.

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