Carnival in Colombia

Join me in Barranquilla, Colombia, to experience Carnival, a unique UNESCO Heritage-recognized event of humankind's cultural patrimony, or as I prefer to call it, an incredibly fun party!

Packages for the independent tour (hotels, domestic air flights, and parade tickets) start at $1190 (double occupancy).

If you prefer to go with a group, join me on the 10 day tour that includes the Barranquilla Carnival, as well as nearby Cartagena and cosmopolitan Bogota.

If you have additional time, consider continuing on with me to Peru and Machu Picchu.

Contact me directly for any additional info!

Walter Rey
415 637 2660
Walter@VamosColombiaTour.com
www.VamosColombiaTour.com

Direct Flight from US to San Andres island in Caribbean to start in June 2010

According to RCN (Colombian news):

Starting June 2010, Spirit Airlines will operate a direct flight from Fort Lauderdale, USA to the island of San Andres (in Colombia).

The announcement was made by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Oscar Rueda Garcia, who said this is an opportunity for the island to capture the U.S. market. According to him, 10 years ago there was no direct flight from that country to San Andres.

The Deputy Minister, together with aviation authorities and the governor of the department, met in Miramar, Florida with the airline's president, Ben Baldanza, to define aspects of the new operation.

source:
http://www.rcnradio.com/noticias/econom/10-12-09/nueva-ruta-rea-san-andr-s-fort-lauderdale

Halloween in Bogota - Celebration in Style!

Bogota goes all out to celebrate Halloween with great costumes, parties and festivities - everyone dresses up! The pictures are from Teatron's Halloween party (the largest gay club and bar in Bogota - it was completely packed with literally thousands of Bogota's hottest guys!)

If you like a great party in a fun atmosphere, you will love Bogota on Halloween! Vamos Colombia Tour offers a great package for Bogota and Colombia on Halloween or any time of year.
www.vamoscolombiatour.com

To see more pictures from Halloween, check out the pictures on facebook.

Schedule for Bogota Music Celebrations 2010

From Colombia Reports:

Bogota authorities determined the dates for the festivals to be held in Bolivar park the coming season. Apart from 2010's edition of Rock Al Parque, there will be festivals focused on salsa, jazz, hip hop and world music.

The country's biggest festival, Rock Al Parque, will be held from June 23 and June 29. The 2010 edition is the festival's 15th anniversary and more than 60 bands are expected to perform.

From August 22 until August 30, the park is reserved for next year's edition of Salsa Al Parque. This year's edition of this salsa festival wll be focusing of Colombian composer and singer Joe Arroyo this year.

Jazz Al Parque, planned between September 7 and September 13, will offer jazz concerts and workshops.

Hip Hop Al Parque, despite unrest the past year, will go on and is scheduled for October 13 until October 18. The concert is the biggest hip hop event in Colombia and will not just show the country's best rappers, but also have dance demonstrations and the Second Encounter of Hip Hop Formation Houses.

The only festival that hasn't had its date set is Colombia Al Parque, a festival focused on Colombian culture, but this year with great emphasis on the traditional cultures of other parts of the world.

Bogota 8th most Techie city in Latin America

According to a report in Colombia Reports, based on an article in El Tiempo:

Bogota is the 8th most technologically advanced city in Latin America, according to a study by Motorola and Convergencia Research.

Bogota was 8th out 150 Latin American cities, with Sao Pablo (Brasil) in first place followed by Chihuahua and Merida (Mexico). Medellin is the second most technologically advanced city in Colombia.

The study ranked cities according to infrastructure, services, commitment to reducing the digital divide and use of information technologies and communications between citizens, businesses and public institutions, El Tiempo reported.

Colombia has 2,746,816 internet subscribers according to the Commission of Regulation of Communications. There are 774,066 subscribers in Bogota (28 per cent of the national total).

Bogota provides public internet through 70 interactive portals around the city. 30,970 people have so far signed up for the city's digital literacy program.

Avianca and Taca to combine forces

Two prominent airlines in Latin America are merging forces, although they will keep their separate identities, it seems. TACA focuses on Central America with flights to North and South America (especially Peru). Avianca is centered in Colombia. Together, they will provide great connections and travel possibilities for those wishing to get to Colombia, and to get around Latin America as well.

According to Routes Online:

Avianca, the national carrier of Colombia and TACA, which has a tri-hub strategy with its hubs based in Lima, San Jose and El Salvador has announced plans to merge from next year.

The merger will see the coming together of two of the largest carriers in the Latin American market.

The move will create cost synergies from cost savings from the operational side of the business with procurement and employee numbers working in Aircraft, Ground Staff, Fuel, Airport Charges and Customer Services. The fleet and networks of the two carriers will be largely complimentary.

TACA has three hubs, operating 31 aircraft with a mainly short/medium haul range, including A319/A320/A321 and E-190, where as Avianca operates 46 aircraft with larger aircraft such as their B767-300 ER and A330-200, it also has 12x B787 on order.

Avianca operates 2111 weekly frequencies from Bogota, whereas TACA from its three hubs operates 806 weekly services. In terms of their network, TACA currently operate 36 destinations whereas Avainca operates 43, however there is crossover on only 9 destinations, including Buenos Aires, JFK, Washington Dulles and Mexico City.

The merger will see TACA gain access to Avianca long haul destinations in Europe, notably Barcelona and Mexico which gives TACA passengers access to these large hispanic VFR markets from any TACA destination, on the same ticket, this also creates extra feed into the Avinca long haul routes. The merger will also help the combined carrier compete with LAN on these lucrative European markets, which given its presence across several countries in Latin America allows it to feed high volumes of domestic traffic to its International network.

The merger will lead to the combined airline being one of the largest carriers in Latin America.

Note: The above route maps may not be current, and are for illustrative purposes only.

UNESCO recognizes two Colombian festivals as cultural heritage

According to Colombia Reports,

Colombia saw two of its most important festivals added to the UNESCO list of intagible cultural heritages; Popayan's holy week and Pasto's black and white carnaval.

The two festivities are added to the 90 other officially recognized intagible culture heritages from around the world.

Already on the list were Barranquilla's world famous carnaval and the culture of San Basilio de Palenque, a town in the north of Colombia, famous for its afrocolombian music and dance.

UNESCO's own website describes the two events as follows:

Pasto's Black and White Carnaval:
Arising out of native Andean and Hispanic traditions, the Carnaval de negros y blancos (Black and White Carnival) in San Juan de Pasto in south-western Colombia is a great celebration lasting from 28 December to 6 January each year. The celebrations begin on the 28th with the Carnival of Water − the throwing of water in homes and on the streets to initiate a festive mood. On New Year’s Eve, the Old Year’s parade takes place, with marchers carrying satirical figures representing celebrities and current events, and culminating in a ritual burning of the passing year. The main days of the carnival are the last two, when people of all ethnicities don black cosmetics on the first day, then white talcum on the next to symbolize equality and integrate all citizens through a celebration of ethnic and cultural difference. The Black and White Carnival is a period of intense communion, when private homes become collective workshops for the display and transmission of carnival arts and a wide range of people come together to express their views of life. The festival is especially important as the expression of a mutual desire for a future of tolerance and respect.

Popayan's Easter Week:
The Holy Week processions in Popayán are one of the oldest traditions in Colombia, practised since the colonial period. From the Tuesday to the Saturday before Easter, between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., a series of processions take place. The five processions, devoted to Mary, Jesus, the Cross, the Laying in the Tomb, and the Resurrection respectively, follow a two-kilometre route through the town centre. Each procession is set around reliquary floats, or pasos, which are created and assembled according to complex rules. The reliquary floats are adorned with ornate, flower-decked wooden statues, most of which date from the late eighteenth century and depict the Easter story. The route is flanked on either side by worshippers carrying candles and wearing special clothing. The processions are remarkable for their artistic quality (gilding, cabinetwork), sounds and smells (incense). Preparations, which last for a whole year, follow instructions passed down to children from age five, and from generation to generation. The processions have their own vocabulary and expertise, and the roles and responsibilities of each individual are precisely allocated. Some inhabitants of the town, who have formed a general assembly to protect the tradition, act as the organizers and work with the authorities and various bodies. The processions, which attract many visitors from around the world, are a major factor contributing to social cohesion and the local collective psyche.

NYT features Villa de Leyva

With the headline "Villa de Leyva, a Graceful Window on Colonial Colombia", the New York Times Travel Section of October 25, 2009, features a very nice article on Colombia's favorite colonial town the time forgot, Villa De Leyva. It is one of several articles that focus on Latin America.

Check it out!
http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/travel/25explorer.html?em

New video of first time visitors to Colombia: "Shooting Colombia"

Check out this great new video documenting the eye-opening experience of international visitors in Colombia for the first time. In the words of the website for "Shooting Colombia":

About Shooting Colombia

This was a journey into the unknown and, the untold. Armed only with cameras, 12 people from different nationalities, backgrounds and walks of life agreed to take part in an experiment, to experience the true Colombia. Told to leave their pre-conceptions at home they documented the truth exactly as they saw it. Witness the unimaginable places, the characters and the experience of a lifetime as they saw it.

This is their story.

http://www.shootingcolombia.com/

Bogota Film Festival 2009 - 26th year

The 26th edition of the Bogota Film Festival features many international films, including a tribute to India.

Check out

http://www.bogocine.com/xxvi/

Tourism Up in Colombia Once Again

According to Colombia Reports:

Colombian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism announced that tourism to Colombia increased 9.2% from January to August 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.

819,613 foreign tourists arrived in Colombia between January and August, 2008, while 894.742 foreign visitors came to the country in the same period in 2009. On the other hand, more than 460,000 foreign travelers are expected to set foot on Colombian soil during the upcoming cruise season, which is 22,8% more than last year.

According to economic newspaper Portafolio, the Colombian association of travel agencies perceives a significantly increased income in the first semester of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, in spite of the 8% decrease in global tourism.

"We have perceived the same increase announced by the Ministry (of Trade, Industry and Tourism), which shows that the (travel) agencies continue to benefit, while airlines and hotels consider us their allies when it comes to the merketing of their tourist product, Mario Alfredo Nassar, a coordinator for the Colombian syndicate of travel agencies, said.

Tourism to Colombia started to soar as the security improved in and around the country's tourist destinations like Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin.

Video Metro Bogotá

See the new plan for the metro in Bogota

New Intermational Flights to Colombia

This picture has nothing to do with international flights, but is more interesting than another airplane.

From Colombia Reports:

Colombian Aviation authorities granted 20 new international routes permissions to Colombian airlines in an attempt to bring the ticket price down and boost international trips, newspaper La Republica reported Wednesday.

The permission, which will make the airlines less dependent on domestic flights, was granted to Avianca, Aires and Aero República.

Aires will add weekly flights from Bogota to New York and back, and daily frecuencies from Barranquilla, Cali, and Cartagena to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. It will also fly the Bogota-Sao Paulo, and Rionegro-Mexico City frequencies, with Boeing 373-700 aircrafts.

Aviaca will fly Bogota-Orlando-Bogota everyday, and Bogota-San Jose (Costa RIca)-Bogota. It will also add frequencies from Bogota to Sao Paulo, Fort Laudrdale, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Aruba, and Curaçao.

Aero Republica will add the fequencies from Bogota to Santo Domingo, Aruba, San Jose (Costa Rica), Panama, Sao Paulo, and Miami.

The report says that Colombia aviation authorities are brokering a bilateral agreement with Dubai for new direct flights between the two countries.

Bogota is one of the world's sexiest affordable destinations

Travel and Leisure, noted travel magazine, has pronounced Bogota one of the world's sexiest affordable destinations (and the "nest Buenos Aires"). Of course we always knew it - just check out any Shakira video!




http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-sexiest-affordable-destinations-2009/11?label=worlds-sexiest-affordable-destinations-2009

Here is what they have to say:
Bogotá, Colombia

Why Go Now: With its flourishing culinary and nightlife scenes, plus new flights from the United States on JetBlue, Delta, and Continental, Colombia’s capital is set to become the next Buenos Aires.

The Details: Bogotá’s historic center is La Candelaria, where the recently reopened Museo del Oro now houses a 6,500-piece collection of pre-Columbian gold coins and other works of art. And at the nearby Fernando Botero Museum, you’ll find more than a hundred sculptures and paintings by the artist. Just down the street, the 43-room Hotel de la Ópera (doubles from $215, including breakfast) occupies a pair of elegantly restored Republican-era town houses. In the Zona Rosa district, the Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia (doubles from $340) is a 102-room property near the city’s art galleries. Bogotá’s restaurant scene is booming—try Italian Gigi Trattoria (lunch for two $25) for house-made pastas and Club Colombia for regional classics such as corn empanadas and ajiaco, a hearty chicken-and-potato stew.

T+L Tip: On the edge of town, the restaurant Andrés Carnes de Res (dinner for two $90) puts on all-afternoon feasts of grilled steak.

Vamos Colombia Tour has a youtube channel now

Check out all the Vamos Colombia Tour videos, most introduced by Walter, on the Vamos Colombia Tour youtube channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/WalterVamosColombia

where you can also see the most recent video,

New video with Walter at Bogota Gay Pride

Check out Walter at Bogota Gay Pride, with a video of the underwear fashion show at one of the gay pride events during pride week in Bogota. Now on the youtube page of Walter of Vamos Colombia Tour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk9u8aWY2Uk

Gold and Coffee: 10 Day Escorted Tour in Bogota and the Coffee Growing Region, Colombia

For more details, including the daily itinerary, check out
http://vamoscolombiatour.blogspot.com/2009/09/gold-and-coffee-10-day-escorted-tour-in.html
and our facebook page for the trip:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=135715701766

Gold and Coffee: 10 Day Escorted Tour in Bogota and the Coffee Growing Region, Colombia

Vamos Colombia Tour, LLC is offering our latest trip: 10 Days of Colombian Beauty and Flavor in October, 2009 (escorted by Walter Rey)

Escorted 10 Day Tour
Detailed Daily Itinerary
October 22-Nov 1, 2009

Double Occupancy $1979, plus airfair to Bogota
Single Supplement $400

www.VamosColombiaTour.com

Thursday Oct 22 - Bogota
Arrive in Bogota; Welcome dinner.

Friday Oct 23 - Bogota
9 am. On an included city tour we visit the highlights of Bogota, including: La Candelaria neighborhood and Monserrate for a great view of the city.
La Candelaria is the historical colonial center of Bogota, and contains many political, recreational and historical sites. We will visit the Donacion Botero Museum, the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango, La casa de Marques, and the Plaza de Bolivar. We will then explore the one-of-a-kind Gold museum where there is a rich display of our pre-Colombian indigenous gold artifacts in many forms. There are some very good restaurants and coffee shops to enjoy as we stroll around, including a delicious French-Colombian bakery.
3 pm. Back to hotel, relax. Dinner is on your own. For special dinner, we recommend the following high-end restaurants (reservations required): Leo Cocina y Cava (gourmet Colombian, very upscale) , Donostia (Spanish-Colombian, with emphasis on fresh ingredients), or Itanos (Italian-Colombian). We can assist you with transportation arrangements.
10 pm. Optional evening at the bars. We will help you with arrangements.

Saturday Oct 24- Bogota Environs
9 am. Tour through the picturesque countryside of green rolling hills and small towns. An all day tour of the Sabana of Bogota. This includes the traditional towns of Calera with the great Mercado , Sopo with it great and only Alpina creamery where we can taste the sweets of the milk products with a Swiss twist. Guatavita where the legends tell us about the Indigenous Cacique who bathed in the lake wearing gold on all his body. Zipaquira has the well known cathedral carved out of the underground salt mines. We will end up at Chia for a 6:30 pm. For dinner at Andres Carne de Res which defies description. Dinner here is a uniquely Colombian fiesta, including full dinner, live music and entertainment. Dancing always ensues, so bring your shoes!


Sunday Oct 25 - Bogota
Free day. Sunday in Bogota offers many options which you can explore during this free day, including the treasure-filled Sunday market in Usaquen (known for crafts and antiques); bicycling through the major city streets closed to car traffic; strolling though the botanic gardens; or brunch buffet filled with Colombian delicacies in an aristocratic setting (Club Colombia followed by shopping in the upscale northern boutiques and designer stores).
Additional optional half day trip: 11 am we drive to the lovely town of Subachoque, to visit an orphanage that takes in and cares for children with HIV while trying to place them with families followed by lunch at a lovely hacienda restaurant in the farming community outside of Bogota. Will be returning around 4pm.
We suggest a lighter fare dinner at Crepes and Waffles.

Monday Oct 26 Coffee Region (Armenia city, Quindio department)
We will be flying to Armenia, principle city of the Zona Cafetera, or Coffee Region. We will stay at an old hacienda on a coffee plantation or farm, which has been restored with period antiques and modern amenities. We visit Recuca, a working coffee farm where the visitor can experience the history and production of coffee, including harvesting the beans right off the plant, and then sitting for a tasting of the local product.

Tuesday Oct 27 Coffee Region
We visit one of the highlights of the region, the picturesque town of Salento, with its beautifully painted main square and attractive streets containing crafts, shops and cafes. From there it is a short drive to the Cocora Valley, home of Colombia’s national tree, the Wax Palm, rising from the green hills into the fog above, making for an incomparable sight.

Wednesday Oct 28 – Coffee Region
Free Day. As an option, spend time relaxing at the Santa Rosa de Cabal natural hot springs for a warm bath in a beautiful natural setting. A dip in the pool at the hacienda is an inviting alternative.


Thursday Oct 29 Coffee Region
Free day. Some options include a ride down the river on a balsa raft, a visit to the natural gardens with a butterfly encounter, or visiting other quaint and traditional towns, for example Manizales, famed for its beauty.

Friday Oct 30 – Fly to Bogota
Relax in the morning at the hacienda, and return to Bogota in afternoon.

Saturday Oct 31 - Bogota
Free Day We can provide additional suggestions for shopping or other activities.
Evening Halloween party at Teatron

Sunday Nov 1 Bogota; tour ends
Return to USA

Jazz Festival in Bogota September 2009

As reported in Vive.in (with pictures of Colombian musicians taken in Barranquilla for Carnaval)

Inaugurated in 1988, the Jazz Festival of the Teatro Libre in Bogota has been positioned as one of the earliest and most prestigious in Latin America. Since then, with the exception of 1993, has taken place annually.

As has become customary, during the month of September, the Festival will offer seven to eight concerts of solo artists and groups from diverse areas: Latin America, United States, Europe, Africa and, of course, Colombia.

Similarly, during the Festival are conducted workshops conducted by guest artists. Besides promoting and developing jazz in Colombia, has given rise to various festivals in other cities. Throughout its history, the Festival has invited more than 37,000 spectators

This year's festival will feature artists from the likes of Brad Mehldau U.S., who with twenty albums, eight of them leading by more than ten weeks, the list of Billboard magazine's jazz, has become one of the most surprising and interesting jazz pianists today.

It will also be after twelve years, the saxophonist Kenny Garrett, flagship of the acoustic jazz tradition.

One attraction is in Havana Report, which comes from Cuba, yet the sound of Afro-Cuban jazz, which the pianist Ernan Lopez-Nussa part.

And among many other artists from Italy Luigi Bozzola, will come with all that load of acid jazz, with its strong core of the acoustic explorers of all persuasions, integrating the new generation of musicians that guide modern jazz in that country.

Since 3 September, the Free Theater opens its doors to present an entire show of the best jazz and continue its tradition within the scene of festivals of this type.



BRAD MEHIDAU (USA)
Auditorio Leon de Greiff
Thursday September 3, 2009



REPORT HAVANA (Cuba)
ZAPEROCO (Colombia)
Free Theater Chapinero
Friday September 4, 2009



KENNY GARRETT (USA)
Auditorio Leon de Greiff
Sàbado September 5, 2009
Buy tickets ...



DUO Bozzolo (Italy)
MARIAZU (Colombia)
Free Theater Chapinero
Thursday September 10, 2009



JORGE EMILIO FADUL & THE CARIBBEAN PARADISE ORCHESTRA
Free Theater Chapinero
Friday September 11, 2009

To view all programming visit http://www.festivalinternacionaldejazz.com/
Original article in Spanish at:
http://bogota.vive.in/musica/bogota/conciertos/agosto2009/EVENTO-WEB-FICHA_EVENTO_VIVEIN-5930167.html

Delta-Avianca Code Sharing to Resume

Travel to Colombia may get even more convenient with codesharing restarting between Delta and Avianca (the Colombian airlines). This will permit travelers to fly from many US cities to several Colombian destinations with just one ticket and without having to recheck bags on the connections.

Check out
http://airlineroute.blogspot.com/2009/08/delta-avianca-codeshare-resumes-07sep09.html

Tourism in Colombia on the Rise Still 2009

From the Colombia Reports website:

Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism expects the country to receive 2.8 million visitors in 2010, a record figure representing an increase of 15 percent over 2008.

This projected rise is based on the proportional increase of arriving travelers listing recreational and business purposes for travel in Colombia.

According to the Ministry, Argentina is one of the countries generating the highest number of visitors to Colombia, ranking 6th in the world in the period from January to June 2009. In the same period, Colombia received more than 638,000 visitors, a growth of 10.3 per cent over the same period in 2008.

Favorite Colombian destinations of tourists, in order of importance, are: Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla and San Andres. Destinations that have grown most in the first half of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 are Medellin (33.5 per cent), Bucaramanga (27 per cent), and Santa Marta (14.4 per cent).

The figures for January-June 2009 have reinforced the growth trend observed earlier this year, when official reports of the World Tourism Organization marked a growth in tourist arrivals of 7.5 per cent during the first two months of the year, contrasting with a 7.7 per cent decline of tourism worldwide.

Tourism is currently Colombia's third largest export, behind oil and coal, according to Minister Luis Guillermo Plata.

Barranquilla Jazz Festival, 2009

Barranquilla will celebrate the biggest International Jazz Festival in Colombia with world-class artists ranging from Latin Jazz, Salsa, Flamenco, Colombian Jazz and Jazz-Fusion. Barranquijazz takes place September 9 to 13, 2009.

There will be several Jazz Festival in Colombia next week but Barranquijazz is the most important of all, followed by the Medellin Jazz Festival.

What began as a project of some music lovers in 1997 turned quickly into one of the annual highlights of Barranquilla. The world's biggest jazz and Latin jazz artists have attended Barranquijazz.

This year the Caribbean city will host Mark Walker (United States), Papo Vazquez, Dave Valentin, Omara Portuondo and his orchestra (Cuba), Jaume Vilaseca quartet (Spain) and Rik Mol (Netherlands) among others.

Music lovers can enjoy the jazz vibes at the Teatro Amira de la Rosa, Plazoleta Teatro Amira de la Rosa, Plaza de la Paz, University del Norte, stadium Romelio Martinez and the Salon Jumbo del Country Club.

For more information and the whole program, check out http://www.barranquijazz.com/

Bill Gates gives US$1 million to Medellin public libraries

Colombia Reports now reports:

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/5575-bill-gates-gives-us1-million-to-medellin-public-libraries.html

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the Medellin public libraries with US$1 million for providing computers and internet access to citizens in 34 libraries throughout the city.

The EPM Foundations Network of Public Libraries (NPL) is located throughout Medellin in some of the city's most marginalized communities. The libraries have become cultural centers "for accessing knowledge, learning and also as areas of community action and pride," Clara Patricia Restrepo, executive director of the EPM Foundation, said.

The majority of NPL's guests are from low-income communities who do not have a computer at home, like Hugo Patiño. The 50-year-old cook, who came to Medellin in 2007 after violence displaced him from his home in northern Colombia, had never used a computer before. But through courses at the public library, he learned how to create cost estimates, keep books and to promote a business online. Now Patiño is inspired to open his own restaurant.

The NPL has more than 500,000 visitors per months. "Their work is a stunning example of how a country can use the power of public libraries and technology to transform people's lives," Deborah Jacobs, director of the Global Libraries initiative for the foundation, said.

The EPM Foundation will use the money to expand their services on its web portal and to develop information and communication technology training programs.

Colombia Tourism on the rise, according to Dinero Magazine (Spanish), as Reported in Colombia Passport website (English)

The article from Passport Colombia website (which is mostly an English translation of the original article in Spanish from Dinero magazine) says:

More tourism for Colombia

Posted by Albeiro Rodas on 8/21/09

Tourism to Colombia grew 10 percent during the first semester of the year, while in the world it fall 8 percent, according to Cotelco, the Colombian Association of Hotels. The statement was done by Jaime Alberto Cabal, president of the hotels’ association and published by Dinero Magazine. More than 60 thousand foreign visitors have entered the Colombian territory during the first six months of 2009, much more than last year at the same period.

According with Cabal, the Administrative Department of Security of Colombia (DAS), the entity that coordinates the entries of foreign visitors, reported the increase in the number of foreign visitors to the country.

The 36 percent of foreign tourists came from United States and Venezuela, according to DAS. Foreigners enter Colombia by airports, sea ports and roads.

In contrast, the global financial crisis reduced the number of visitors around the world. It is sure that the position of Colombia – four hours by plane from Miami and ports in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean – made Colombia a cheaper destiny for American and Latin American travelers.

According with Jaime Alberto Cabal, Colombia has increased the construction of hotels and the international image of the country on the press is most better. He said that in 2009, the hotel sector will receive 700 million of dollars in investment, much more than what it got in 2007 (550 million dollars).

The construction of new sites for tourism like thematic parks, new centers and beautifying of the cities, played an important factor in the attraction of foreign visitors.

Alberto López Valderrama, president of Corferias, reported to Dinero that the hotel sector grew in Bogotá 14.8%, Antioquia 9,1%, Bolívar 8,5%, and Valle 8,3%, among other regions.

It was exposed also the problem of the pirate hotels (tax evaders) that evade annually about 300 thousand million of pesos.

The most visited Colombian regions during the first semester of 2009 were San Andrés Islands, 70,2%; Norte de Santander, 60,4%, the Coffee Axes, 45% and Bogotá, 59,9%.

Venezuelans were very attracted by Colombia during the last six months not only by the tourist plans, but also the possibility of business and investment in the country.

By other part, 183 tourist cruises visited the historical city of Cartagena de Indias like the Dawn Princesa with 2,100 passengers.

(photos by Vamos Colombia tour)

www.vamoscolombiatour.com

Colombia Ministry of Tourism Announces Photography Competition "Reveal Colombia"

The Spanish language announcement and a (more or less) English translation below.

The cite (in Spanish) is
http://www.mincomercio.gov.co/eContent/NewsDetail.asp?ID=7258

Ministerio de Comercio Industria y Turismo

Concurso Nacional de Fotografía “Revela Colombia”

El 27 de septiembre de cada año, se conmemora en todo el planeta el Día Mundial del Turismo, cuyo objetivo principal es fomentar la sensibilización entre la comunidad internacional respecto a la importancia de turismo y su valor social, cultural, político y económico.

Colombia, como estado miembro de la Organización Mundial del Turismo, a través del Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo ha decidido invitar a todos los colombianos y extranjeros que hayan tenido una experiencia turística en Colombia, a participar en el Concurso Nacional de Fotografía Turística “Revela Colombia”, con el fin de mostrar y compartir la diversidad de atractivos turísticos visitables y semblanzas culturales con los que cuenta Colombia. Ver flash

Objetivos del concurso

• Dar a conocer la gran diversidad de atractivos turísticos visitables a lo largo de todo el territorio nacional.
• Fomentar la actividad turística dentro del territorio nacional y elevar la competitividad en el sector.
• Promover el desarrollo del turismo sostenible y responsable a lo largo del territorio nacional.

¿Quién puede participar?

Pueden participar todos los colombianos y extranjeros, residentes o no en el país, mayores de 18 años.

¿Cuántas fotografías puedo mandar?

Cada participante puede presentar hasta tres (3) fotografías, por cada tema:

1. Paisajes urbanos, monumentos, arqueología y arquitectura.
2. Gente, costumbres, gastronomía, artesanías, ferias y fiestas folclóricas.
3. Paisajes naturales, flora y fauna.

¿Lugar y fecha de entrega de fotografías?

El material debe entregarse hasta el día 16 de septiembre de 2009 en un sobre sellado en cualquier punto de Servientrega desde donde se realizará el envío que no tiene ningún costo.

Para los participantes no residentes en Colombia que no puedan enviar sus fotografías en físico, se habilitó un correo electrónico concurso@mincomercio.gov.co y una línea de atención + 57 (1) 427 9000 donde se les explicará la mecánica del envío de las imágenes de forma digital.

Bases del concurso pdf

Punto 1. Solo participarán fotografías inéditas que hayan sido tomadas en Colombia entre los años 2006 y 2009, que presenten escenarios turísticos visitables del país, sus productos, atractivos naturales, culturales, religiosos o sociales (se entiende por atractivo turístico visitable un espacio geográfico, escenario o atractivo turístico natural, cultural o arquitectónico, así como festivales, ferias o fiestas que se localicen o realicen dentro del territorio nacional en donde se encuentren los atractivos y los servicios turísticos que posibilitan la permanencia del turista, que cuentan además con infraestructura que facilitan el acceso a dicho atractivo).

Punto 2. Cada participante puede presentar hasta tres (3) fotografías, una por cada tema:

1. Paisajes urbanos, monumentos, arqueología y arquitectura.
2. Gente, costumbres, gastronomía, artesanías, ferias y fiestas folclóricas.
3. Paisajes naturales, flora y fauna.

Los participantes deben tener en cuenta que los atractivos fotografiados deben ser visitables (remitirse al punto 1 de este documento).

Punto 3. El participante deberá diligenciar completamente el documento de los Términos y Condiciones que se podrá descargar al final de esta página, en el cual especificará el lugar donde fueron tomadas las fotografías y/o el atractivo fotografiado, así como el año de realización de la fotografía.

Punto 4. Los participantes residentes en Colombia deberán enviar, a través de los puntos autorizados de Servientrega o por otro medio a la dirección Carrera 13A N° 87-33 de Bogotá, un sobre sellado que deberá contener un (1) CD marcado con el seudónimo elegido por el participante, con las imágenes en archivos digitales, numerados y organizados como se indica a continuación:

• Una carpeta, llamada BAJA con las fotografías en baja resolución,
• Una carpeta llamada ALTA con las fotografías en alta resolución,
• Y el documento impreso de términos y condiciones debidamente diligenciado.

Las personas residentes fuera de Colombia interesadas en participar en el concurso deberán enviar sus datos al correo concurso@mincomercio.gov.co con el nombre completo, nacionalidad, documento de identidad, lugar de residencia (país, ciudad y dirección exacta de contacto) número de teléfono y correo electrónico para contactarlo. A vuelta de correo recibirán las instrucciones para poder enviar sus fotografías por medio de un canal digital dispuesto para este fin.

Punto 5. Los participantes deberán entregar las mismas fotografías en baja y alta resolución dentro de las siguientes especificaciones:

• Baja resolución: Las fotografías deberán estar en la carpeta BAJA. Estas imágenes deberán tener un tamaño de 1.024 pixeles en su lado más largo y deberán estar a 150 dpi.
• Alta resolución: Las fotografías deberán estar en la carpeta ALTA. Estas imágenes deberán tener un tamaño mínimo de 2.000 pixeles por su lado más largo y deberán estar a 300 dpi.

Punto 6. Los archivos en alta y baja resolución deberán estar nombrados de la misma forma bajo los siguientes parámetros:

• 1_Seudonimo.jpg - Corresponde al tema 1. Paisajes urbanos, monumentos, arqueología y arquitectura.
• 2_Seudonimo.jpg - Corresponde al tema 2. Gente, costumbres, gastronomía, artesanías, ferias y fiestas folclóricas.
• 3_Seudonimo.jpg - Corresponde al tema 3. Paisajes naturales, flora y fauna.

Ejemplo: En caso de que un participante concurse únicamente dentro del tema 3. Paisajes naturales, flora y fauna, deberá nombrar su foto de la siguiente manera: 3_elturista.jpg en donde el número 3 corresponde a la categoría 3. Paisajes naturales, flora y fauna y “elturista” a su seudónimo.

Punto 7. Del material recibido, un comité compuesto por fotógrafos, periodistas, publicistas y funcionarios del Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo seleccionará 99 fotografías finalistas (33 por cada categoría). Estas fotos serán publicadas en el Portal Oficial de Turismo www.colombia.travel a partir del día 29 de septiembre.

De las 99 fotografías finalistas se seleccionarán las 3 mejores fotos (1 por categoría), escogidas por el Jurado Oficial del concurso, las cuales serán clasificadas de la siguiente forma: primero, segundo y tercer lugar. Dichas fotos serán retribuidas por el Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo de la siguiente forma:

• 1er. puesto: $10.000.000 de pesos.
• 2o. puesto: $6.000.000 de pesos.
• 3er. puesto: $3.000.000 de pesos.

La mejor fotografía y el nombre del autor de la misma serán publicadas en un periódico de alta circulación nacional el día domingo 27 de septiembre de 2009, Día Mundial del Turismo.

Términos y condiciones

Punto 1. En el concurso, no podrán participar funcionarios ni personas vinculadas bajo contrato de prestación de servicios al Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, así como empleados, administradores de la empresa contratada para la organización del concurso, parientes ligados con los anteriores dentro del primer y segundo grado de consanguinidad, segundo grado de afinidad o único primero civil. En caso de verificarse que uno de los ganadores se encuentra trabajando bajo estos vínculos, se entregará el premio respectivo al participante que ocupe el siguiente lugar.

Punto 2. Los participantes declaran y garantizan que todas las fotografías son de su autoría. Los participantes aceptan y garantizan que mantendrán indemne al Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, así como a la empresa contratada para la realización del concurso, respecto de cualquier reclamación por parte de terceros que aleguen tener algún derecho sobre el material presentado.

Punto 3. La participación es gratuita. Solo se recibirá el material en los puntos oficiales de recepción del concurso mencionados en este documento.

Punto 4. Durante el tiempo de realización del concurso, ninguno de los organizadores o jurados mantendrá comunicación directa con los participantes. Si los participantes necesitan asistencia técnica, podrán acceder concurso@mincomercio.gov.co y una línea de atención + 57 (1) 427 9000.

Punto 5. La mención y premiación de las fotos ganadoras se hará en la ciudad de Armenia, en el marco de la clausura de “Turismo Compite”. Los premios deberán ser reclamados por los ganadores con su documento original de identificación. De no poder reclamar personalmente el reconocimiento, lo podrás hacer bajo poder notarial a un tercero o bajo poder autenticado ante un notario, dentro de los 15 días hábiles siguientes a la fecha de divulgación de los ganadores.

Punto 6. De no realizarse todos los trámites necesarios para la entrega de los premios en el término señalado, se entregará el premio respectivo al participante que ocupe el siguiente lugar.

Punto 7. Si los ganadores del primer, segundo y tercer puesto de la convocatoria se encuentran fuera de la ciudad de premiación, los gastos de traslado a dicha ciudad o los trámites notariales que se generen, correrán por cuenta del beneficiado.

Punto 8. Las fotografías enviadas y los nombres de los concursantes pasarán a ser parte de un banco de imágenes y podrán ser usadas por el Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo con fines de promoción, divulgación y publicidad, sin límite territorial, con una duración indefinida y en cualquier medio sin previo aviso o ni compensación económica alguna.

En caso de hacer uso de las fotografías, el Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo o cualquier tercero, otorgará los respectivos créditos al autor de la fotografía (derechos morales). Con el sólo hecho de enviar las fotografías para participar en el concurso, los participantes aceptan estos términos y condiciones.

Punto 9. Los participantes declaran que son los titulares de los derechos morales de autor sobre las fotografías; en tanto que los patrimoniales pertenecerán al Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, bajo una licencia de uso sobre ellas, de acuerdo a lo señalado en las leyes 23 del 1982 y 44 de 1993 y lo conculcado el Código Penal en lo pertinente.

Teniendo en cuenta que los derechos patrimoniales de las fotos enviadas pertenecerán al Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, deberá entenderse que la retribución de que trata el punto 7 de las bases del concurso, es un incentivo a los derechos morales o de autor.

Especificaciones técnicas

Punto 1. Cada participante podrá concursar con máximo tres (3) fotografías.

Punto 2. Sólo se admiten imágenes digitales. Las fotografías impresas, negativos o diapositivas escaneadas serán admitidos siempre que cumplan con los requisitos técnicos especificados en el punto 5 de las bases del concurso.

Punto 3. La base temática es un lugar turístico visitable, por lo tanto no se recibirán fotografías realizadas en estudio o composiciones que no muestren el contexto original de la imagen. Se aceptan cortes, manipulaciones básicas de color, contraste y nitidez. Podrán participar fotografías en color o blanco y negro. No se tendrán en cuenta las imágenes con manipulaciones no convencionales tales como: fotomontajes, textos insertados digitalmente, marcas de agua, marcos o bordes digitales, etc.

Punto 4. Las fotos recibidas se evaluarán bajo los siguientes criterios:

• Calidad fotográfica.
• Buena composición.
• Manejo de la luz.
• Escenarios turísticos.
• Forma de trasmitir el producto o atractivo turístico.
• La forma cómo trasmiten sensaciones.

Advertencia

Las fotografías que no cumplan con las bases y especificaciones mencionadas en este documento, no se tendrán en cuenta.

Por favor, lee detenidamente las bases del concurso y los términos y condiciones antes de enviar tu foto.

Si no estás de acuerdo con todas estas bases, términos y condiciones de uso, por favor, abstente de participar en este evento.

Selección de ganadores

Para definir a los ganadores, se conformará un comité que preseleccionará las 99 mejores fotografías del concurso.
El comité estará compuesto por fotógrafos profesionales, guías de turismo, editores web y profesionales del sector turístico.

De estas 99 fotografías, el Jurado seleccionará las tres mejores fotografías que obtendrán compensación económica de la siguiente manera:

• 1er. puesto: $10’000.000 de pesos.
• La foto ganadora será publicada el día 27 de septiembre de 2009, Día Mundial del Turismo, en la primera página de un diario de amplia circulación nacional.
• 2o. puesto: $6’000.000 de pesos.
• 3er. puesto: $3’000.000 de pesos.

Adicionalmente a los tres primeros premios, las 99 mejores fotografías serán expuestas dentro del marco del evento “Turismo Compite”.

El evento de premiación también se realizará dentro de la clausura de “Turismo Compite” en donde se hará entrega del premio a los tres ganadores.

Fechas

• Apertura del concurso: 3 de agosto de 2009.
• Fecha límite para recepción de trabajos: 16 de septiembre de 2009.
• Preselección: 17-20 de septiembre de 2009.
• Selección: 21-23 de septiembre de 2009.
• Proclamación de los ganadores: 25 de septiembre de 2009.

Jurados

El concurso "Revela Colombia" contará con un reconocido jurado que escogera a los ganadores:

• Sr. Luis Guillermo Plata, Ministro de Comercio, Industria y Turismo.
• Sr. Oscar Rueda, Viceministro de Turismo.
• Sr. Ricardo Cifuentes, Coordinador Grupo de Promoción, Viceministerio de Turismo.
• Sra. Nubia Stella Martínez, Vicepresidenta de Turismo, Proexport Colombia.
• Sr. Juan Ricardo Rodríguez, Director Académico de la Especialización en Fotografía, Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
• Sr. Amalio Rigoberto García, Subdirector del Centro de Desarrollo de la Imagen "Zona Cinco".
• Sr. Javier Sandoval, Fotógrafo y Diseñador Gráfico, Universidad Nacional de Colombia y Universidad de Barcelona, España.

Premios

Las 99 mejores fotografías serán expuestas dentro del marco del evento “Turismo Compite”.

El evento de la premiación se hará dentro de la clausura de “Turismo Compite” en donde se hará entrega del premio a los tres ganadores.

La foto ganadora del primer puesto será publicada el día 27 de septiembre, Día Mundial del Turismo, en la primera página de un diario de amplia circulación nacional.

• 1er. puesto: $10"000.000 de pesos.
• 2o. puesto: $6"000.000 de pesos.
• 3er. puesto: $3"000.000 de pesos.

ENGLISH VERSION:

Ministry of Commerce Industry and Tourism
National Photography Competition "Reveals Colombia"


On 27 September each year, is commemorated around the planet on World Tourism Day, whose main objective is to promote awareness among the international community about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic.

Colombia as a member state of the World Tourism Organization, through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism has decided to invite all Colombians and foreigners who have had an experience of tourism in Colombia, to participate in National Photography Competition Tourist " Reveals Colombia ", in order to show and share the diversity of tourist attractions to visit and cultural profiles with counts Colombia. View flash

Objectives of competition

* To publicize the diversity of tourist attractions visited along the entire national territory.
* To promote tourism within the country and increase competitiveness in the sector.
* Promote the development of sustainable and responsible tourism throughout the country.

Who can participate?

Open to all Colombians and foreigners, residents or not in the country, over 18 years.

How many photos can I send?

Each entrant may submit up to three (3) photos for each item:

1. Urban landscape, monuments, archeology and architecture.
2. People, customs, cuisine, crafts, fairs and folk festivals.
3. Natural landscapes, flora and fauna.

Place and date of delivery of photos?

The material should be delivered until September 16, 2009 in a sealed envelope Servientrega anywhere from where it sent it has no cost.

For participants not residing in Colombia that can not send your photographs into physical, was enabled an email concurso@mincomercio.gov.co and a hotline + 57 (1) 427 9000 where they were explaining the mechanics of sending the images digitally.

Contest Rules pdf

Item 1. Only participate unpublished photographs that have been taken in Colombia between 2006 and 2009, to present tourism scenarios visited the country, its products, natural, cultural, religious or social (the term tourist attraction visited a geographical space, or appeal stage natural tourist, cultural or architectural, as well as festivals, fairs or festivals that are located or conducted within the country where they are the attractions and tourist services that facilitate the stay of tourists, also have their own infrastructure to facilitate access to that attractive).

Item 2. Each entrant may submit up to three (3) photographs, one for each topic:

1. Urban landscape, monuments, archeology and architecture.
2. People, customs, cuisine, crafts, fairs and folk festivals.
3. Natural landscapes, flora and fauna.

Participants should be aware that photographed attractions must be visited (refer to point 1 above).

Item 3. The participant must completely fill the paper with the Terms and Conditions which can be downloaded at the bottom of this page, which indicate the location where the photographs were taken and / or photographed attraction, and the year of implementation of the photograph.

Item 4. Participants should send residing in Colombia, through authorized points Servientrega or by other means in the direction Carrera 13A No. 87-33 Bogota, a sealed envelope must contain one (1) CD marked with the pseudonym chosen by the participant, with the images as digital files, numbered and organized as follows:

* A folder called LOW with pictures in low resolution,
* A HIGH folder named with the pictures in high resolution,
* And the paper form, duly completed terms and conditions.

People living outside Colombia are interested in participating in the contest should send their data to email concurso@mincomercio.gov.co with full name, nationality, identity, place of residence (country, city and exact address of contact) number telephone and email contact information. By return mail will receive instructions to send your photos via a digital channel provided for this purpose.

Item 5. Participants must submit the same pictures in low and high resolution within the following specifications:

* Low Resolution: Photographs must be in the LOW folder. These images must have a size of 1,024 pixels on its longest side and must be at 150 dpi.
* High resolution: Photographs must be in the folder HIGH. These images must have a minimum size of 2,000 pixels on its longest side and must be 300 dpi.

Item 6. Files in low and high resolution must be appointed in the same way under the following parameters:

* 1_Seudonimo.jpg - Applies to item 1. Urban landscape, monuments, archeology and architecture.
* 2_Seudonimo.jpg - Applies to item 2. People, customs, cuisine, crafts, fairs and folk festivals.
* 3_Seudonimo.jpg - Applies to item 3. Natural landscapes, flora and fauna.

Example: If a participant contest only under item 3. Natural landscapes, flora and fauna, must name your photo as follows: 3_elturista.jpg where the number 3 corresponds to category 3. Natural landscapes, flora and fauna and "elturista" his pseudonym.

Item 7. The material received, a committee composed of photographers, journalists, publishers and officials of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism will select 99 finalists photographs (33 in each category). These photos will be published in the Official Tourism Portal www.colombia.travel from September 29.

Of the 99 finalists will be selected photographs the best 3 photos (1 per category), selected by the official jury of the contest, which will be classified as follows: first, second and third. These photos will be paid by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism as follows:

* 1st. place: $ 10,000,000 pesos.
* 2nd. place: $ 6,000,000 pesos.
* 3rd. place: $ 3,000,000 pesos.

The best picture and name of the author thereof shall be published in a newspaper of national circulation high on Sunday 27 September 2009, World Tourism Day.

Terms and conditions

Item 1. In competition, officials may not participate or related persons under contract to provide services to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism as well as employees, managers of the company contracted to organize the contest tied with previous relatives within the first and second degree of consanguinity, second degree of affinity or only the first civil. If verified that one of the winners were working under these links will present the award corresponding to the participant who occupies the next place.

Item 2. Participants represent and warrant that all photographs are of his authorship. Participants agree to hold harmless and ensure the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and the company contracted to carry out the contest for any claims by third parties who claim to have some claim on the material presented.

Item 3. Participation is free. Only receive the material in the official points of reception of the contest mentioned in this document.

Item 4. During the time of completion of the contest, organizers or any of the jurors keep direct communication with participants. If participants need technical assistance may qualify concurso@mincomercio.gov.co and a hotline + 57 (1) 427 9000.

Item 5. The mention of the photos and award winners will be made in the city of Armenia in the framework of the close of "Tourism Compete. The prizes must be claimed by the winners with their original documents. Unable to personally claim the recognition, you can do under power of attorney to another person or under power authenticated before a notary, within 15 working days from the date of disclosure of the winners.

Item 6. If not done all the necessary arrangements for the awards in the period mentioned, the respective prize is being awarded to the participant who occupies the next place.

Item 7. If the winners of the first, second and third in the summons is outside the city award, the costs of transfer to that city or notary procedures that are generated, be borne by the beneficiary.

Item 8. Photographs sent and the names of the contestants will become part of an image database and may be used by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism for advocacy, dissemination and publicity, without territorial limit, for an indefinite period and any means without prior notice or no financial compensation.

If use of the photographs, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism or any third party, give the respective credits to the author of the photograph (moral rights). In fact only send the photos to enter the contest, participants agree to these terms and conditions.

Item 9. Participants declare that they are the owners of moral rights on the photographs, while the property will belong to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, under a license to use them, according to the laws as stated in 23 of 1982 and 44 of 1993 and violated the criminal code as appropriate.

Given that the economic rights of the photos sent belong to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, should be understood that the pay is section 7 of the competition rules is an incentive to moral rights or copyright.

Technical Specifications

Item 1. Each participant can compete with up to three (3) photographs.

Item 2. We will only accept digital images. Printed photographs, negatives or slides scanned will be admitted provided they meet the technical requirements specified in section 5 of the competition rules.

Item 3. The basic theme is a tourist site visited, therefore will not be received photographs taken in studio or compositions that do not show the image's original context. Accepted cuts, basic manipulations of color, contrast and sharpness. May take photographs in color or black and white. Not taken into account images with unconventional manipulations such as photomontages, digitally inserted text, watermarks, digital frames and borders, etc..

Item 4. All photos received will be evaluated under the following criteria:

* Photo quality.
* Good composition.
* Management of the light.
* Scenarios tour.
* Method of conveying the product or tourist attraction.
* The way convey feelings.

Warning

The photographs do not comply with the bases and specifications referenced in this document should not be disregarded.

Please carefully read the contest rules, terms and conditions before submitting your photo.

If you do not agree with all these bases, terms and conditions of use, please refrain from participating in this event.

Selection of winners

To define the winners, will be formed a committee to pre-select the 99 best pictures of the competition.
The committee shall consist of professional photographers, tour guides, web publishers and tourism professionals.

Of these 99 photographs, the jury will select the three best pictures will get compensation as follows:

* 1st. place: $ 10'000 .000 pesos.
* The winning photo will be published on 27 September 2009, World Tourism Day, on the first page of a newspaper of national circulation.
* 2nd. place: $ 6'000 .000 pesos.
* 3rd. place: $ 3'000 .000 pesos.

In addition to the three first prizes, the 99 best photographs will be exhibited as part of the event "Tourism Compete.

The awards event will also take place within the close of "Tourism Compete" where will present the prize to three winners.

Dates

* Opening of the contest: 3 August 2009.
* Deadline for receipt of entries: 16 September 2009.
* Screening: 17-20 September 2009.
* Selection: 21-23 September 2009.
* Proclamation of the winners: 25 September 2009.

Juries

The competition "Reveals Colombia" will feature a renowned jury will choose the winners:

*
Mr. Luis Guillermo Plata, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
*
Mr. Oscar Rueda, Deputy Minister of Tourism.
*
Mr. Ricardo Cifuentes, Advocacy Group Coordinator, Deputy Minister of Tourism.
*
Ms. Nubia Stella Martinez, Vice President of Tourism, Proexport Colombia.
*
Mr. Juan Ricardo Rodriguez, Academic Director of the Specialization in Photography, National University of Colombia.
*
Mr. Amalio Rigoberto Garcia, Deputy Development Center of Image Zone Five.
*
Mr. Javier Sandoval, Photographer and Graphic Designer, Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Universidad de Barcelona, Spain.

Awards

The 99 best photographs will be exhibited as part of the event "Tourism Compete.

The event of the awards will be made within the close of "Tourism Compete" where will present the prize to three winners.

The first-place winning photo will be published on 27 September, World Tourism Day, on the first page of a newspaper of national circulation.

*
1st. place: $ 10 "000,000 pesos.
*
2o. place: $ 6 "000,000 pesos.
*
3rd. place: $ 3 "000,000 pesos.