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)
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