Colombia has proven to be an excellent host for international meetings industry events in different cities of the country . Now , it also strives to position itself as a sustainable meeting destination that also respects local communities . This means establishing the sector and adopt sustainability practices to optimally use environmental resources , respect the socio - cultural authenticity of communities , ensure viable long - term economic activities , and engage event attendees in sustainable strategies .
An excellent example of this strategy is Colombia's participation in IMEX Frankfurt from May 23 to 25 , where 17 selected companies , including tour operators , promotional entities , venues , and hotels , will show what they have to offer the travel industry . meetings , with the support of ProColombia , an entity that operates under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia. The president of ProColombia , Carmen Caballero , declared: " We want to promote an industry that benefits the attendees and the organizing company of the event , while also benefiting communities and the environment .
Colombia has the infrastructure , knowledge and unique and high quality experiences at competitive prices , it has everything it needs to become the destination they are looking for . "
The delegation that represents Colombia at IMEX is the following: Ágora , Cartagena de Indias Convention and Visitors Bureau, Colombia en Colores , DCOBYS , EM HOTELS , Faranda Hotels , Greater Bogotá Convention Bureau , Hilton Corferias Convention Center , Hotel Almirante Cartagena, Hotel Hyatt Regency Cartagena de Indias , Four Seasons Hotels , Incentivamos Colombia S.A.S. , Las Américas , Macondo DMC , Muisca Travel , VAOVA , and Wherenext Travel S.A. S. ProColombia , under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce , Industry and Tourism, seeks to attract high - profile events . impact. This means positioning the sector and making the necessary preparations to host international events that adapt to the new dynamics of the industry , adopting sustainability practices to optimally use environmental resources, respecting the socio-cultural authenticity of communities, ensuring viable long-term economic activities and engaging event attendees in sustainable strategies.
With a population of more than 51 million people and an area close to that of Spain and France combined, visiting Colombia is like visiting six countries at once due to its great diversity of landscapes, grouped into six major tourist regions: the Greater Caribbean Colombian, the Eastern Andes of Colombia, the Western Andes of Colombia, the Colombian Massif, the Colombian Pacific and the Amazon-Orinoquía. Colombia is a world power for life. It is the second most biodiverse country on the planet, the country with the largest number of bird and orchid species in the world, and the second most biodiverse country in terms of amphibians and butterflies.
According to the General Directorate of Migration of Colombia, more than 48,600 international travelers visited the country in the first quarter of 2023 for business and events, 32% more than in the same period of 2022. In terms of connectivity, as of December 2022, There are 29 airlines in operation, connecting 11 destinations in Colombia with 45 international cities in 26 countries around the world. In 2023, 14 new international air routes have been announced, increasing Colombia's connectivity with seven countries in the Americas and Europe (Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, the United States, Mexico, Aruba and Switzerland), nine of which have already started operating .