A new controversy is surrounding one of Colombia’s most iconic tourist destinations. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, known for its historical, cultural, and religious significance, is now under investigation by Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC), Colombia’s consumer protection and competition authority, over a commercial scheme that could limit visitors’ freedom of choice.
The agency has opened an administrative investigation to determine whether the company that manages the underground complex is forcing visitors to purchase additional services, together with the main entrance ticket to the temple. If confirmed, the practice could constitute what regulators describe as tying, a commercial practice that in certain circumstances may amount to an abuse of dominant market position. For now, the investigation is ongoing and no sanction or final decision has been issued. Still, the case has raised broader questions about how access is commercialized at one of Colombia’s most visited tourist attractions.
A mandatory tourist package raises concerns
Anyone who wants to enter the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira must purchase a tourist package known as a “passport.” This package includes the entrance to the temple but also bundles several additional services that are part of the experience offered within the complex. Among the services included are a guided tour inside the cathedral, internet access, admission to the park’s archaeological museum, entry to the Quevedo House Museum, and transportation on the exit train that connects different areas of the salt temple.
The model is marketed as a comprehensive experience for visitors. However, the investigation by Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) seeks to determine whether making these services mandatory limits each visitor’s ability to choose which activities they actually want to pay for.
The core issue is not the cultural or touristic value of these services. Rather, the debate centers on whether they should be offered as optional add-ons so visitors can customize their experience inside the park. According to the regulator’s preliminary hypothesis, the current system may force some visitors to pay for services they have no interest in using, raising potential concerns from both a consumer protection and competition law perspective.
SIC’s key finding: only half of visitors use the included services bundled with their ticket purchase
One of the findings that caught the attention of Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) during the early phase of the investigation relates to how frequently visitors actually use the services bundled in the tourist passports.
Based on information collected by the authority, only about 50% of visitors who purchase these packages end up using the additional services included in them. In other words, roughly one out of every two visitors pays for benefits they ultimately do not use. For the regulator, this figure could indicate that the services are not essential to visiting the cathedral.
If they were, most visitors would likely make use of them during their tour. Consumer behavior like this is one of the factors the agency is examining to determine whether bundling the services reflects a genuine visitor need or primarily a commercial decision by the operator.
The relevance of the case grows when considering the importance of the Salt Cathedral as a tourist destination. The underground complex receives more than 700,000 visitors per year, according to figures reported by the park’s administration and cited by the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. The outlet reported that the site reached a historic record of 705,045 visitors in 2024, coming from Colombia and more than 100 countries. A trend that has continued to grow over time. That level of traffic highlights the site’s weight within Colombia’s tourism industry and helps explain why any changes in its pricing model could affect hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Tourism growth in Colombia encourages stronger consumer oversight
The investigation is unfolding at a time of strong growth in Colombia’s tourism sector. According to figures cited by Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC), the country received 14.8 million foreign visitors between August 2022 and November 2025, placing Colombia among the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
This surge in tourism has boosted the sector’s economic impact but has also prompted authorities to increase scrutiny of commercial practices affecting travelers. From an institutional standpoint, ensuring clear and fair conditions for visitors has become a priority. Travelers often enter unfamiliar markets with limited information about pricing structures or service conditions, making them more vulnerable to potentially unfair practices.
In that context, consumer protection becomes particularly important. According to statements from the authority reported by Caracol Radio, the issue is that the so-called tourist passports may prevent visitors from freely choosing which services they want to purchase. “These packages, known as passports, would not allow visitors to freely choose the services they wish to acquire, since purchasing the ticket to access the temple necessarily implies the mandatory acquisition of other additional services,” the agency explained in a statement.
This arrangement is precisely what regulators are evaluating as a possible tying practice, which occurs when buying one product requires the purchase of an additional service.
Possible repercussions if regulators confirm an anticompetitive practice
As the investigation moves forward, one question remains central: What would happen if regulators ultimately determine that the current commercial model violates competition rules?
If Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) ultimately determines that the current ticketing scheme at the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira constitutes an abusive tying practice, the consequences could extend well beyond a financial sanction.
Under Colombia’s competition law framework, the authority has the power to impose significant monetary penalties on companies that engage in practices deemed to restrict competition or harm consumers.
In cases involving abuse of dominant position, fines can reach up to 100,000 minimum monthly legal wages for corporations, depending on the severity of the conduct and the economic benefit obtained from it. However, financial penalties would likely be only part of the outcome.
One of the most immediate repercussions could be a mandatory restructuring of the cathedral’s ticketing model. The regulator could require the operator to separate the entrance ticket from additional services so that visitors are able to choose which experiences they want to purchase individually.
Such a change would alter the way the tourist attraction has historically packaged its services. Instead of a single bundled “passport,” the site might have to offer a basic entry ticket with optional add-ons, such as guided tours, museum access, or transportation within the park.
Beyond the cathedral itself, a sanction could send a broader signal to the tourism industry in Colombia. Other major attractions that rely on bundled service models might reassess their pricing structures to ensure they do not risk similar investigations.
The decision could also have implications for consumer protection standards in the tourism sector, reinforcing the principle that visitors — both domestic and international — should be able to choose freely which services they want to purchase.
At the same time, regulators would likely weigh the potential economic impact of any required changes. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira is not only a cultural and religious landmark but also a major economic engine for the municipality of Zipaquira and the surrounding region.
Adjustments to its commercial model could affect revenues that support maintenance, tourism infrastructure, and local employment. For that reason, any final decision would likely aim to balance two objectives: protecting consumers’ freedom of choice while preserving the sustainability of one of Colombia’s most recognized tourist destinations.
An investigation still in its early stages
Although the investigation has sparked public debate, the administrative process is still in its early stages. So far, Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) has conducted administrative visits to the tourist complex, requested information from the company that manages the site, and collected statements from individuals who may provide relevant evidence for the case. These steps are part of the evidence-gathering phase typical of investigations involving potential anti-competitive practices.
The company that manages the complex has full legal rights to defend its position. It can submit formal responses to the allegations, provide documentation, request additional evidence, and ask for witness testimony to support its arguments. The company may also offer guarantees or commitments to modify its business practices if it considers adjustments necessary.
As for timing, investigations of this type before the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) typically take time. Depending on the complexity of the case, the volume of evidence, and the legal motions presented by the parties, a case involving a potential abuse of dominant position can take between one and three years to reach a final decision.
At the end of the process, the authority has several options. It may close the case if insufficient evidence is found, impose financial penalties if a violation is confirmed, or accept commitments from the company to modify its commercial practices. In the meantime, the debate remains open.
The outcome of this investigation could affect not only the operation of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, but also the way other tourist destinations in Colombia design their service packages and visitor experiences.