Cartagena's Horse Carriages Go Electric: A New Era for Tourism

Cartagena, a beautiful city in Colombia, is making a big change. It's swapping its old horse carriages for new electric ones. This shift comes after years of animal rights activists speaking up about the horses' well-being. The city's mayor, Domek Turbay, introduced the first 30 electric carriages. These new vehicles look like the old horse carriages but run on batteries. They have steering wheels instead of reins. The mayor said this change is long overdue. Many people, both locals and tourists, have been against using horses for buggy rides. Cartagena is a popular tourist spot. It's known for its Caribbean beaches and historic sites. For decades, horse carriages have been a part of the city's charm. But activists say the horses suffer from the hot weather and busy streets. They argue that horses are not meant to work in such conditions.The city plans to introduce 62 electric carriages. These vehicles were made in China just for Cartagena. The city is also building a warehouse with a solar plant to charge them. This makes Cartagena the first major tourist destination to replace horse carriages with electric ones. Not everyone is happy about this change. Horse carriage owners say they have already made improvements to care for the horses. They want the city to compensate them for their losses. Some owners even threaten to go on a hunger strike. The city says it wants to hire carriage drivers for the new electric vehicles. But there's no clear plan for the carriage owners. The mayor accuses them of making negotiations difficult. This change is a big deal. It shows how cities are trying to balance tradition with modern concerns. It also raises questions about how to support people whose livelihoods are affected by such changes.