International tourism, and specifically outbound tourism, has achieved extraordinary results in recent months, which among other aspects, reflects a globalized mentality on the part of Colombians, and an interest in connecting with the world, to become ambassadors of the country's image.
An indication of this is that during the first half of 2024, 2.7 million Colombians went abroad, which represented an 11% growth. “This good moment for outbound tourism enriches us culturally and encourages us to continue working with Travel Agencies to provide a more varied offer of international tourist packages,” said Paula Cortés Calle, executive president of ANATO.
It is worth noting that, in the first half of 2024, five countries accounted for 70% of Colombians' trips abroad for tourism, events and business purposes, which were: the United States with a 25% share; Spain, with 15%; Mexico, with 14%; Panama, with 9%; and the Dominican Republic, with 7%.
“It is essential that, as a sector, we continue working to open our entry to more countries without requiring visas. Thailand recently eliminated this requirement for Colombians, a measure that we celebrate, since it is an opportunity to increase their departure to this exotic destination in Southeast Asia and for more countries in the region to join this initiative,” said the union leader.
He added: “We expect that, with the dynamics that the figures have been showing, by the end of 2024, approximately 5.6 million Colombians will leave for abroad, which would represent a growth of 9% compared to 2023.”
Source: Migración Colombia