José María Córdova International Airport in Medellin, Colombia.
Colombia is on track for a record year of international travelers in 2024, buoyed by several new routes including Emirates’ entry to the market.
The country welcomed record 6.1 million international travelers in 2023, marking a 29% increase from the previous year. By July 2024, the country had already received more than 3.7 million non-resident visitors, reflecting a 7.7% rise compared to the same period in 2023.
According to Gilberto Salcedo, tourism vice president at ProColombia, the nation has become a top destination in South America for U.S. visitors, with Bogota, Medellín and Cartagena the most popular destinations for international travelers.
He says that the growth is underpinned by the significant strides in air connectivity. “As of September, eight airlines including Avianca, Emirates, GOL, JetBlue, JetSMART, LATAM, United Airlines and World2Fly have announced 18 new routes connecting Colombia to 13 countries,” Salcedo tells Aviation Week.
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“Also, Emirates' arrival with its route from Dubai to Bogota via Miami has been a great milestone for the country, achieved as a direct result of negotiations at the Routes Americas event," Salcedo says. "Another major success is GOL's entry into the Colombian market with two new routes from São Paulo and Buenos Aires to Bogotá.”
Additionally, Avianca continues to diversify its operations, launching flights from Bogota to Montreal, Paris and Chicago, and from Medellín to Santiago and São Paulo. JetBlue is also expanding its footprint by flying to Medellín from San Juan, Puerto Rico, marking the first time this airline connected the Caribbean island to Colombia.
Salcedo says Colombia is targeting 13 priority markets, including the U.S., Chile and Spain, to further enhance its tourism sector. He adds: “By focusing our efforts on these key markets, we ensure that our promotional campaigns are targeted and impactful.”
The tourism promotion strategy is data-driven, analyzing global trends and demand, while also highlighting Colombia’s sustainable tourism offerings, cultural diversity and biodiversity.
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