Tourist spending in Colombia grew 11 percent in the first quarter of 2025, compared to last year.
In recent years, tourism in Colombia has not only recovered but also strengthened. Between January and April 2025, the country recorded 2.864 billion in foreign currency from air passenger transport and travel , representing a 12.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The country received more than 2.27 million non-resident visitors between January and April. Photo: iStock
According to figures published by the Bank of the Republic, the travel category contributed 2.43 billion dollars, while the passenger category registered 434 million dollars , with increases of 11.6 percent and 21.2 percent,
During this same period, the country received more than 2.27 million non-resident visitors, a figure that confirms the positive trend in the sector and international confidence in Colombia as a tourist destination.
“These results are a clear sign of the current momentum of Colombian tourism. We're seeing how international travelers are not only visiting us more, but also spending more in the country. The generation of foreign currency is a testament to the positive economic impact this industry has on Colombia, revitalizing territories, creating jobs, and strengthening the sector's value chain,” said Carmen Caballero, president of ProColombia.
Twenty-seven percent of travelers' budgets are spent on food and beverages. Photo: Milton Díaz / EL TIEMPO Archive
It was announced that between January and March 2025, the average spending per trip by tourists visiting the country was more than $1,600 , which represents an 11.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The areas travelers spent the most on were: food and beverages (27 percent); lodging (20.2 percent); tour packages (16.7 percent) ; land and water transportation (10.2 percent); souvenir and gift purchases (5.7 percent); and cultural and recreational services (5.6 percent).
Paula Cortés Calle, executive president of the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ANATO), explained that this increase is due, in part, to international tourism promotion strategies , advances in national tourism infrastructure, and the addition of more destinations and experiences.
15.7 percent of people arriving in Colombia traveled with family members. Photo: iStock
According to official figures, 57.3 percent of trips were solo, followed by 19.4 percent with a partner ; 15.7 percent with family; 6.4 percent with friends; and 1.1 percent with colleagues.
Regarding overnight stays, tourists stayed an average of 16 nights, a similar figure to the first quarter of 2024. Visiting family or friends, medical treatments, and/or wellness and educational experiences are the three travel reasons for which the highest number of overnight stays were recorded, with 27, 20, and 19, respectively.
Tourists stayed an average of 16 nights. Photo: iStock
For business or professional trips, the average stay was 12 nights, while those traveling for vacation, recreation, and leisure stayed 10.7 nights, one night less than last year.
"What was once seen primarily as short-haul, low-cost tourism has now become a more extended experience with a greater economic impact. This change also reflects a more favorable international perception of Colombia, institutional strengthening in tourism management, and the current demand for travel to diverse places that combine culture, nature, gastronomy, and well-being," concluded Cortés Calle.
ANGIE RODRÍGUEZ - TRAVEL EDITORIAL - @ANGS0614
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