Colombia exceeds tourist expectations: El Dorado receives the 6.2 millionth tourist in 2024

Colombia reaches a new record in 2024 with the arrival of its 6.2 millionth tourist, exceeding expectations and consolidating itself as a key tourist destination in Latin America, thanks to its ecological, community and sustainable tourism offer.

Colombia News

Colombia continues to consolidate itself as one of the most attractive destinations in Latin America. This Monday, December 23, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism celebrated the arrival of his tourist number 6.2 million this year, an achievement that marks a new record for the country. This figure, which exceeds expectations of 6 million non-resident visitors for all of 2024, underlines the sustained growth of tourism in Colombia.

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The reception of this historic tourist took place at the El Dorado International Airport, the main entry point for international travelers who wish to explore the various regions of the country. The identification of the 6.2 million tourist was possible thanks to the Ministry’s projections, based on international flight figures from Civil Aeronautics and data from Migration Colombia.

Luis Carlos Reyes, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, highlighted that this milestone reflects the growing global interest in Colombia, especially with regard to ecological, community and sustainable tourism. “We have worked together with communities to offer unique experiences that showcase the rich nature, culture and history of our country,” said Reyes.

So far this year, Colombia has received 5.3 million non-resident visitors, an increase of 9.4% compared to the same period in 2023. This growth has been constant, suggesting that the final figure could exceed 6.5 million tourists in 2025, which would mark another record.

Tourist number 6.2 million arrived aboard an Avianca flight from Sao Paulo (Brazil) with a group of friends. Their final destination is Cúcuta, in Norte de Santander, where they will take a tourist tour.

Felipe Andrés Gómez, Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability of Avianca, celebrated this achievement as a reflection of the airline’s network of international destinations, the largest in its history, and highlighted the importance of tourism for the country’s economy.

Fernando Estupiñán, general manager (e) of Fontur, highlighted that this record symbolizes the growing attraction of Colombia for international travelers, and thanked all the tourists who have chosen the country as their destination.

Growth of Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism has also shown positive results. According to the Domestic Expenditure in Tourism Survey (EGIT), in the third quarter of 2024, 7.8% of people over the age of 10 traveled for recreational reasons, representing an increase of 0.8% compared to the previous year. Travel for recreational and vacation purposes was the most common, with an increase of 35.7%.

In terms of spending, the average daily per capita during domestic tourism trips increased by 14.9%, reaching $158,549. This growth is reflected in the increase in air travel, which increased by 56.6%, while travel by private land transportation decreased by 20.9%.

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