Colombian promotion and export company Proexport invested a record amount of money into attracting international visitors to Colombia this year.
While tourism continues to be a key marker of economic growth throughout Colombia, the director of Proexport, Maria Elvira Pombo has announced that this year the country will put a similar amount of money into promoting Colombia overseas as it has done in previous years within the country.
“In terms of tourism promotion, funding this year amounted to US$15 million which includes contributions received through the tourist promotion fund for international promotion projects,” Pombo stated in a report by newspaper El Espectador on Sunday.
Pombo added that there has been particular efforts to promote Colombia at international fairs in countries such as Spain and Brazil.
According to statistics the successful promotion of the country is facillitating a changing of Colombia’s image overseas and thus, an increase in international visitors – mainly to the Caribbean coast.
The Colombian Caribbean city of Cartagena de Indias, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is awaiting the arrival of more than 180 cruise liners and more than 360 thousand visitors throughout the coming cruise ship season, which is a record number.
The ongoing tourism boom along Colombia’s Caribbean coast has this year lead to the settlements of Cartagena and Santa Marta being inaugurated as shipping ports where both international and national tourists are welcomed in increasing numbers.
