Colombia celebrated the arrival of its 6.2 millionth tourist in 2024, reinforcing its position as a leading tourist destination in Latin America. The record number of visitors marks another milestone for the country.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism confirmed the achievement this week, welcoming the 6.2 millionth tourist at Bogota’s El Dorado Airport.
This figure exceeds the initial projection of 6 million non-resident visitors for the year. With a few days remaining in 2024, the country has already surpassed the target by 200,000.
Colombia breaks records in tourist arrivals in 2024
The identification of Colombia’s 6.2 millionth tourist in 2024 was made possible through projections by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. The data was based on international flight arrivals reported by Civil Aeronautics and recent statistics from Migration Colombia.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Luis Carlos Reyes highlighted the significance of the milestone. “This historic figure reflects that the world views us as an attractive destination for ecological, community, and sustainable tourism,” Reyes said.
Reyes also emphasized the collaborative effort with local communities to offer unique experiences. “We have worked hand in hand with communities to promote experiences that showcase our natural and cultural wealth. There is also a story to tell—a story of resilience and overcoming. This integral tourism is what foreign visitors seek today,” he added.
The tourist arrived on an Avianca flight as part of a group of four friends from São Paulo, Brazil. Their final destination is Cucuta, the capital of Norte de Santander, where they plan to sightsee.
Felipe Andrés Gómez, an Avianca spokesman, celebrated the achievement. “More than 90% of tourists visiting Colombia arrive by air. Reaching 6.2 million international tourists is a milestone for Colombia and for Avianca. It demonstrates that our commitment to having the most extensive network of international destinations in our history is working,” Gómez said.
According to the Ministry’s Office of Economic Studies, Colombia welcomed 5,325,486 non-resident visitors by October, a 9.4% increase compared to the same period last year, when the figure stood at 4,866,802.
Record number of visitors continues to rise in Colombia
If the upward trend in tourism continues, Colombia could welcome 6.5 million non-resident visitors by 2025, setting a new record for the country.
“The arrival of the 6.2 millionth traveler is a milestone that strengthens the work we’ve done to implement our Tourism Sector Plan 2022-2026, Tourism in Harmony with Life,” said Vice Minister of Tourism Juan Manrique. “The world recognizes that Colombia offers a different kind of tourism—one based on experiences and relationships with communities, which is increasingly appealing.”
Manrique added that efforts are focused on promoting regions such as the Colombian Pacific and La Guajira. “These regions have everything needed to attract more travelers,” he said.
Domestic tourism is also growing in Colombia
The promotion of “Colombia, The Country of Beauty” abroad has yielded strong results, attracting a growing number of international visitors. However, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism also emphasized its efforts to boost domestic tourism.
According to the latest Internal Tourism Expenditure Survey (EGIT), covering the third quarter of 2024, 7.8% of people aged 10 and older in Colombia’s 24 main cities traveled for recreational purposes. This marks a 0.8 percentage point increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Recreational and vacation travel emerged as the primary driver, with a 35.7% rise, contributing 16.1 percentage points to the growth of domestic tourism.
Domestic tourism spending also increased significantly in 2024. The average daily expenditure per domestic tourist reached 158,549 pesos (approximately $36), a 14.9% rise compared to 2023.