Colombia Domestic Tourism Approaching Pre-Pandemic Levels

Based on statistics shared by Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the economic activity in Colombia’s domestic tourism sector is projected to end 2021 at $32.9 billion USD, at least 93% of 2019 activity.

“For 2022 we expect a complete recovery in this indicator, and we estimate a GDP of accommodation and food services around $ 37.5 billion, which would represent an increase between 8% and 14% when compared to the same values of the year 2019,” said Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, María Ximena Lombana (above, center), citing the projections of the Directorate of Sector Analysis and Promotion of the Vice Ministry of Tourism.

With regards to international tourism, the country expects to end 2021 with 1,982,000 foreign tourists, between 39-47% of the 2019 visitor total, though during 2022, the country projects 3 million arrivals.

Referring to the results obtained so far by the sector, Lombana stressed that the GDP of lodging and dining services reached 22.86 billion Colombian pesos between January and September. The third quarter saw a GDP of $9.1 trillion, the best quarter in revenue since 2005 when the measurement began.

Hotel occupancy in October reached 51.6%, compared to the 2019 level of 49.6%. “We estimate that at the end of 2021 the economic activity of accommodation and food services will be around $32.9 trillion (pesos), that is, above the end of the year level for 2019,” said Minister Lombana.

The president of Cotelco, the lodging industry trade association, José Andrés Duarte, said that the sector expects “a year-end with an average of 56% national hotel occupancy for the month of December. This is slightly higher than December 2019. We are optimistic that the reactivation is evolving in a positive way, although somewhat slow in certain regions where tourism of meetings, congresses and conventions has not taken off.”

Colombia has already exceeded 70% of the population vaccinated against the coronavirus with at least one dose, which places it among the countries with the highest immunization in the world. As of December 10, 60,385,993 vaccines had been applied in the country, of which 32,139,067 correspond to first doses.

The minister invited Colombians and their families to complete their vaccination regimes in order to enjoy the attractions offered by cities and municipalities. “Let’s travel through Colombia maintaining the corresponding biosecurity measures,” Lombana said.