Why Colombia?
TO KNOW
- Colombia offers a growing economy, a strategic location, and trade agreements that facilitate business.
- Having no seasons, its diversity of climates and destinations offers endless combinations to host the most spectacular events at any time of the year.
- With a population of 52 million inhabitants, each region of the country is a totally different world in terms of cultures, rhythms, and traditions, which makes it a magical destination, as it is narrated in the books written by our Nobel Prize winner, Gabriel García Márquez.
- Colombia has the largest number of species per unit area on the planet. There are more than 1,800 species of birds (more than the sum of the total of North America and Europe).
- Colombian herbaria have classified more than 130,000 plant species. Among them, 4,000 kinds of orchids.
- Colombia is the worlds fourth largest producer of coffee, after Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia.
- It has the largest Latin American coal reserves.
- The Colombian cuisine is as diverse as everything else. Each region has its own typical dish. Starting with the ‘Ajiaco Santafereño’ in Bogota. Then, there is the traditional ‘Arroz con coco’ from the Caribbean, the succulent ‘Bandeja Paisa’ from the Eje Cafetero, and the slightly spicy seafood from the southwest Pacific.
MEETING INDUSTRY IN COLOMBIA
- The growth in the number of tourists that visit Colombia every year is higher than the world´s average. Year after year it increases its number by 10%.
- In the last decade, Colombia has stood out as an important destination in the organization of world-class events. According to the ranking of the International Association of Congresses and Conventions (ICCA) in 2024, with 114 events held, the country ranked as the third event destination in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
- Bogota is Colombia’s prime destination, with the largest number of international events held, followed by Cartagena and Medellin.
- In recent years different international hotel chains have chosen the country as a destination to expand their operations. Among them are JW Marriott, W Hotel, Four Seasons, Accor, Best Western, Hilton, Estelar, Hyatt, Intercontinental and Marriott.
BUSINESS IN COLOMBIA
- It is one of the countries with the greatest economic stability in the region. In the last five years, the Colombian economy grew by an average of 3.1%.
- Colombia has 18 trade agreements that provide preferential access to key markets such as the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Peru.
CONNECTIVITY
- 28 passenger airlines operate from Bogotá, enabling the transit of 40 million passengers through the terminal each year and connecting the city to more than 55 international destinations.
- El Dorado Airport is the leading cargo hub in the region, handling over 821,800 tons annually, and ranks as the second-busiest airport in Latin America in terms of passenger traffic.
- Skytrax, the global airline and airport auditing organization, named El Dorado Airport the Best Airport in South America in 2018, 2022, and 2024.
POPULATION
- Bogotá is the most populous city in Colombia, with 11 million inhabitants, representing 15% of the country’s population.
- It is the nation’s largest labor market, with 6 million employed individuals.
- The country’s middle class has grown, accounting for approximately 32.49% of the population in 2024.
