Colombia’s vice president, Francia Márquez, has revealed the Duke and Duchesses’ recent visit was designed to promote tourism to the country.

A statement released by the vice president’s office shared that the attention the trip had garnered helped show Colombia was an “attractive tourism destination”.

The government release also said the tour had shown that the country had moved away from the violence with which it has long been associated and was now worthy of international investment and business – as reported in the Telegraph.

The statement read: “We will continue working to establish Colombia on the international stage as a reference point of creativity, cultural diversity and above all, as a country that knows how to rebuild from differences and is ready to receive millions more visitors.”

However, the statement comes amid a damning 2024 report by the Human Rights Watch which highlighted three key reasons why it is concerned about life in Colombia at the moment. The report read: “Abuses by armed groups, limited access to justice, and high levels of poverty, especially among Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, remain serious human rights concerns in Colombia.”

The vice president claimed she invited the couple to visit after watching their Netflix documentary. She said: “[The documentary] moved me and made me say that this is a woman who deserves to come to our country to tell her story. This exchange will undoubtedly empower so many women in the world.”

Harry and Meghan’s engagements included a visit to a school where they stressed the importance of online safety, having candidly discussed how online trolling played a significant role after leaving the Firm.

Part of the incentive for the Duke and Duchess was to highlight their new online safety campaign and to learn more about the local culture.

The Colombian government recently confirmed that the couple had paid for their own travel but suggested that their heavy security operation was funded by the vice-president’s office.