It's a fair question, and one worth asking honestly rather than assuming: how do the people who actually live in Guatapé feel about the tourism boom that's reshaped their town?
The economic case is clear
Tourism has created substantial local employment — restaurants, boat operations, tour guiding, hospitality, retail — in a town that previously relied more heavily on agriculture, fishing, and hydroelectric-adjacent work. This economic shift is generally acknowledged as a real net benefit by residents, reflected in how central entrepreneurship and small-business programming has become to the town's own festival calendar.
Genuine pride, not just tolerance
Importantly, a lot of what draws tourists — the zócalos, the festivals, the reservoir itself — are things locals are independently proud of, not simply attractions performed for outside visitors. This distinguishes Guatapé from destinations where community and tourism industry feel more separate or extractive.
Real, ordinary trade-offs
Like any small town absorbing rapid tourism growth, there are legitimate, ordinary trade-offs — increased traffic and crowding during peak periods, pricing pressure in tourist-facing areas, and the general adjustment of daily life around a much larger visitor volume than the town saw a generation ago.
The honest, balanced take
Most conversations with longtime residents land somewhere reasonable and nuanced: real appreciation for what tourism has brought economically, genuine pride in the traditions that draw visitors, and an ongoing, practical community conversation about managing growth — not a simple "locals love it" or "locals resent it" story.
How visitors can be good guests
Respecting that this is someone's home and not a theme park, supporting smaller local businesses, and engaging with a bit of curiosity about the town beyond just the photo spots all go a long way toward being the kind of visitor Guatapé's tourism boom benefits rather than strains.