Tourism growth in Colombia exceeds global expectations
Global annual GDP growth is stagnant at 1.1%. Colombia's GDP grew 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year
Recently, the World Economic Forum projected several indicators of global tourism performance for the coming years. However, Colombia has positioned itself as one of the destinations with the greatest potential both nationally and internationally, standing out as an exemplary case.
"Unlike other countries, ours continues to advance with public-private partnerships, consolidating its commitment to employment, quality of service, innovation, and the creation of opportunities in the regions," emphasized Paula Cortés Calle, executive president of ANATO.
According to the study, global annual GDP growth is stagnant at 1.1%. For its part, Colombia's GDP grew 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year, showing itself to be above the global average. Similarly, a 22% drop in per capita tourism spending in low-income economies is forecast for 2030, but the reality in Colombia appears to be moving away from this trend. In 2024, tourism spending grew by nearly 5%, so this trend is expected to continue.
Another aspect mentioned by the Forum is that international tourism in 2030 is expected to increase by 29% compared to 2024, which aligns with Colombia's performance, as 6,988,002 non-resident foreign visitors arrived in 2024, representing a 13.3% increase compared to 2023. Although in the first 5 months of 2025, the country received 2,795,132 foreign visitors, a 0.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, this was driven by the decrease in Colombians residing abroad. However, non-resident foreign visitors totaled 1,904,574, representing a 6.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
“In contrast to global projections, it's clear that while global estimates tend to be less positive, Colombia surpasses some, and has taken advantage of its cultural and natural wealth, as well as the warmth of its people, to build a successful tourism narrative,” the union leader said.
Source: DANE and Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism