Colombia once again stood out on the international tourism stage after receiving 52 nominations at the 2026 World Travel Awards, considered the “Oscars of tourism” for recognizing excellence in the global travel, hospitality, and tourism services industry. The nominations correspond to the South America region and include natural destinations, cities, airlines, hotels, and entities from Colombia’s tourism sector.
The recognition positions the country as one of the tourism leaders in the region, thanks to the diversity of its cultural, gastronomic, natural, and adventure tourism offerings. According to the official distribution, 28 of the nominations correspond to destinations and tourist attractions, while the other 24 are related to brands, companies, hotels, and tourism services.
Among the most important categories in which Colombia is nominated are South America’s Leading Cultural Destination, Leading Culinary Destination, Leading Green Destination, Leading Nature Destination, Leading Romantic Destination, and Leading Adventure Tourism Destination.
Colombia’s participation in this edition also reflects the tourism growth the country has experienced in recent years. According to official figures, between August 2022 and February 2026, the country welcomed more than 22 million nonresident visitors, while in 2025, the tourism sector generated more than US$11.16 billion in foreign exchange revenue.
Colombian cities and destinations nominated at the 2026 World Travel Awards
Several Colombian cities managed to position themselves in different categories thanks to their growth as international tourist destinations. Bogota was nominated in categories related to business travel, urban getaways, festivals, and conferences, consolidating itself as one of the region’s main tourism and corporate hubs.
Medellin also appears among the highlighted cities for its cultural offerings, business sector, and international events. Cali, meanwhile, received nominations related to sports and cultural tourism, while Barranquilla was recognized for its festivals and its ability to host large meetings and events.
Cartagena continues to be one of the country’s strongest destinations in international tourism awards. The walled city was nominated as South America’s Leading Romantic Destination and as an ideal honeymoon destination thanks to its historic architecture, beaches, and luxury hotel offerings.
In the nature and ecotourism segment, there were also major recognitions. Tayrona National Natural Park was nominated as South America’s Leading Nature Destination, while Colombia’s Pacific region was included in the category of Leading Whale Watching Destination.
San Andres, one of the most visited destinations in the Colombian Caribbean, was nominated as South America’s Leading Beach Destination, while the Las Lajas Sanctuary, in the south of the country, appears among the region’s leading tourist attractions.
Avianca, El Dorado, and ProColombia also stand out among the nominations
Colombia’s aviation and tourism services sector also received recognition in this edition of the awards. Avianca was nominated as South America’s Leading Airline and for Best Airport Lounge, while El Dorado International Airport competes as the region’s Leading Airport.
Likewise, specialized services such as El Dorado Lounge and Aerosupport FBO appear in categories related to airport experience and premium customer service.
One of the most significant recognitions once again went to ProColombia, which received its fifth consecutive nomination as South America’s Leading Tourist Board. The organization has played a key role in promoting Colombia internationally as both a tourism and investment destination.
What are the World Travel Awards, and how are winners chosen?
The World Travel Awards were created in 1993 with the goal of recognizing excellence in the global tourism industry. Since then, they have become one of the sector’s most prestigious awards and have organized regional and global ceremonies across different continents.
The 2026 final edition, known as the Grand Final Gala Ceremony, will take place on Nov. 28 in Tanzania, Africa, and will bring together tourism industry leaders, international media, and representatives of the nominated destinations.
The winners are selected through a mixed voting system that combines public votes and votes from tourism industry professionals, including experts in hospitality, airlines, travel agencies, and international tour operators. Expert votes carry greater weight in the selection process.