Bogotá, in partnership with Avianca, launches Stopover, Love at First Runway

Bogotá is preparing to transform its main strength—air connectivity—into a powerful tourist attraction with the launch of "Stopover Bogotá: Love at First Runway," a strategy of the District Tourism Institute (IDT) in partnership with Avianca, the airline that currently offers the greatest connectivity to Bogotá, with a global network of more than 165 routes connecting to 80 destinations in 28 countries.

Supported by the "Bogotá Walks Safely" District Development Plan and the "Bogotá Airport City" program, the strategy is presented as a high-impact initiative to consolidate the Colombian capital as a must-visit destination in Latin America.

The proposal is clear: allow international travelers connecting in Bogotá to stay up to 24 hours at no additional cost on their flight ticket and take advantage of their stopover to discover the best of the city with special offers on hotels, city tours, restaurants, and tourist packages offered by local travel agencies through the website Visitbogota.co.

In this way, Bogotá joins a global trend—known as "Stopover"—that is currently being successfully adopted by capital cities such as Lisbon, Dubai, and Istanbul, among others. "With Stopover Bogotá, we seek to encourage more travelers to take advantage of their stopover to discover our city, enjoy its diversity, and take home a story that inspires them to return. We want a stopover to become a tour of La Candelaria, a lunch with ajiaco flavor, an afternoon in Monserrate, or an evening enjoying Bogotá culture. What was once a waste of time can now be an experience that boosts the economy and strengthens the city's image," said Andrés Santamaría, director of the Bogotá Tourism Office.

Why Bogotá?

El Dorado International Airport, with more than 355,000 flights operated and 45 million passengers transported by 2024, is today the main air connectivity hub in Latin America. Flights to 57 international and 45 domestic destinations depart and land from its runways, serving as a strategic hub between South America, North America, and Europe.

However, according to data from the 2024 Major Traveler Survey by the District Tourism Observatory, 95% of international transit passengers do not leave the airport. With Stopover Bogotá, the city seeks to reverse this trend, activating express stays that boost the local economy, strengthen Bogotá's image as a destination, and increase tourist spending per visitor.

In 2024, Bogotá welcomed more than 14 million visitors, of which 1,871,956 were international tourists, representing an 8.7% increase compared to 2023. Tourism generated nearly 7 billion pesos and more than 106,000 jobs per month, consolidating its position as a key economic driver for the city.

Hotel occupancy averaged 61.4%, and the average daily spending per international tourist was approximately $100. All of this reaffirms that Bogotá has the infrastructure, talent, and experience to become a competitive short-stay destination.

Stopover Bogotá: A city experience for up to 24 hours.

Through packages designed by certified local operators, travelers can enjoy tours such as:
Bogotá in 24 Hours: a visit to the historic center, museums, gastronomy, and shopping.
Flavors of the Capital: an experience in local markets and restaurants.
Natural Bogotá: routes through the hills, gardens, and green spaces within the city.

Each experience seeks to demonstrate that Bogotá is not just a transit point, but a city that captivates from the first moment. Tourists can find special discounts offered by the city on the official tourism website, Visitbogota.co.

With this strategy, at least 472,000 passengers are expected to use the Bogotá Stopover between July 2025 and December 2026, generating approximately $40 million in tourism spending alone. Airport tax revenues are also estimated to exceed $21.2 million.

Avianca, a partner airline of Stopover Bogotá,

will be partnering with the Stopover Bogotá program. Avianca, the airline with the most comprehensive route network in Colombia and one of the largest in the region, will be partnering with the Stopover Bogotá program. Today, the company connects the Colombian capital with more than 40 international destinations and more than 20 domestic ones. Each day, it operates more than 240 flights to and from the International Airport.

El Dorado carries more than 32,000 passengers, of which approximately 18,000 travel via Bogotá, reflecting a city that has become a hub par excellence.

In its initial phase, the strategy will focus on seven priority markets through Avianca's route network: Lima, Madrid, Miami, Guayaquil, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. The District Tourism Institute, for its part, will implement an international promotion strategy. This initiative is expected to attract nearly 72,000 travelers departing from the airport by the second half of 2025, generating an impact on the local economy exceeding $6 million.

“At Avianca, we have been connecting Bogotá, our home, with Colombia and the world for more than 105 years. Therefore, it is an honor for us to be part of projects like Stopover Bogotá, which are fundamental to laying the foundations for the city's future, with tourism as its driving force. This project allows those who have a stopover in the city to see its immense appeal and want to explore it while waiting for their next flight. For this to become a reality, it will be very important to continue working with all stakeholders to ensure that El Dorado International Airport has efficient processes both on the air and ground, thus supporting the economic development of the capital,” said Frederico Pedreira, CEO of Avianca.

Stopover Bogotá is not just a tourism promotion strategy, it's a vision of the city. An invitation for the world to discover everything Bogotá has to offer in 24 hours: history, gastronomy, culture, art, entertainment, nature, and unique shopping tourism experiences, among others. It will be love at first sight that will motivate you to return again.

Source: Avianca.