Colombia shines: leading post-pandemic tourism growth | kbnmart

reading time: 2 minutes

Tourism in Colombia
Colombia leads global growth in international tourism after pandemic, according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Data Comparison Report from 2023 to 2019

Colombia has emerged as the world leader in post-pandemic tourism growth. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic and strict lockdowns, international tourism fell by 72.3 percent. The decline was 68.3 percent in 2019. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development And 69 percent in Colombia.

Amazing recovery

Colombia’s recovery has been remarkable by any measure. In 2023, international tourist arrivals increased by 34% compared to 2019, the highest growth rate among Latin American countries. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Members. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development The report expects the global tourism sector to fully recover by the end of 2024.

Factors behind growth

Industry experts attribute Colombia’s tourism boom to a growing preference for nature and adventure destinations, and wellness and mental health activities such as trekking, climbing and wildlife watching. Colombia’s excellent connectivity with other countries has also contributed significantly to the tourism boom.

The data indicates that Colombia leads the list of countries that witnessed a recovery in international tourism with an increase of 34%, followed by Morocco with 12%. Other major tourist destinations such as Portugal, France, Italy and Spain witnessed growth rates ranging between 11% and 3%.

Colombia leads Americas and the world in tourism recovery after the pandemic – Source: Ministry of Commerce

Tourism Statistics 2024

From January to May 2024, more than 2.5 million foreign tourists visited Colombia, representing an increase of 8.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023. The United States remains the leading source of non-resident tourists (27.4 percent), followed by Ecuador (7.8 percent) and Mexico (7.7 percent). There was a notable increase in the number of visitors from Costa Rica (51.8 percent), Mexico (21.4 percent) and Ecuador (20.1 percent).

The main destinations for non-resident foreigners were Bogotá (36.5%), Antioquia (24.6%), and Bolívar (20.6%). The regions of Antioquia, Bolívar, and Risaralda recorded the highest annual growth rates, at 26.1%, 19.5%, and 11.3%, respectively.

Commitment to tourism

President Gustavo PetroColombia’s administration is committed to making tourism a key sector of the economy, reducing dependence on extractive industries. The “Colombia, Country of Beauty” brand, launched last year, showcases the country’s natural, cultural and historical attractions. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism has allocated 28 billion pesos (about US$7 million) over two years for this initiative.

The government aims to promote Colombia’s positive attributes abroad, and expects to attract between 7.5 and 12 million non-resident visitors by 2026, generate 300,000 new jobs, and bring in US$9.906 billion in foreign exchange from tourism.