The 17th edition of the "Colombia Travel Mart" tourism macro-round begins in Bogotá

Bogotá becomes the epicenter of Colombia Travel Mart (CTM), the most important tourism macro-round in the country. This business meeting, which is in its 17th edition, seeks to strengthen the national tourism industry and establish connections between Colombian supply and international demand, thus promoting the growth and diversification of the tourism sector in Colombia.

The diversity of the offer that Colombian businessmen will present is one of the strong points of CTM 2024, which takes place within the framework of the Anato Tourist Showcase.

The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Germán Umaña Mendoza, highlighted that “this business meeting is the ideal setting for businessmen from all over the world to learn about the enormous potential of Colombia, the country of beauty, in matters of community tourism. cultural, nature, gastronomic and luxury tourism.”

He added that “in the Government of President Gustavo Petro Urrego we designed a Tourism Policy in harmony with life that promotes sustainable, regenerative and responsible tourism. We seek that the country's territories benefit from this economic activity, and in turn, foreign visitors can enjoy the wide and varied range of experiences available."

The Macrorrueda will also highlight proposals related to the meetings industry, that is, conventions, congresses and incentives, as well as special events such as weddings, honeymoons and renewal of vows.

Carmen Caballero, president of ProColombia, highlighted the diversified participation of businessmen from different regions of the country. “Colombia Travel Mart 2024 will have the presence of 265 representatives from 22 departments, each one will offer its natural and cultural wealth, aiming to present new proposals and non-traditional destinations to 188 international companies from 27 countries,” the official explained.

Among the countries with the greatest representation are Ecuador, the United States, Peru, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. Businessmen from European markets such as Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany and France will also attend. Latin American participation will be significant, with attendees from Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Costa Rica or Chile.

For their part, the departments that have the greatest participation of businessmen in the macro-round will be Cundinamarca, Bolívar, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca and Magdalena.

Caballero added that “this event seeks to leave its mark not only on the tourism industry, but also contribute to caring for the environment. Thanks to the collaboration with The Carbon Sink, 90 tons of CO2 were neutralized, positioning Colombia Travel Mart as a carbon neutral event. In addition, the 'Zero Waste' initiative will be implemented for the first time with the support of Más Compost Less Trash. In this way, a real commitment to sustainability is confirmed, not only during the event, but also in the long term, by donating the fertilizer generated to the reforestation of the Eastern Hills of Bogotá.”

During this meeting, businesspeople will be able to enjoy musical cultural displays and demonstrations of the crafts of some artisans, as well as samples of typical Colombian products.

In addition to CTM's commercial activities, 17 familiarization trips will be organized for foreign businessmen, allowing them to explore the wonders of Colombia first-hand. These trips will offer a detailed insight into the diversity of destinations and experiences the country has to offer, from rainforests to pristine beaches and vibrant cities.

In the previous edition of the event, commercial expectations were exceeded with more than 4,700 appointments that resulted in business worth more than US$54 million.

Canada, the United States, Brazil, Peru and Venezuela stood out as the countries with the highest reported business. Regarding the Colombian departments, Cundinamarca, Bolívar, Antioquia, Caldas and Valle del Cauca stood out for being the main business generators.

More appointments to strengthen the national offer

As part of the complementary initiatives of the event, on February 28, a networking event will be held exclusively for Colombian businessmen, in its 7th edition.

This activity aims to strengthen the national tourism industry, facilitating the participation of suppliers not only of tourism, but also of goods and services, and promoting the creation of innovative experiences that captivate both national and international visitors.

With the participation of 234 Colombian suppliers and 99 national buyers, it is expected to promote collaboration and growth of the tourism sector at the national level.