During the first half of 2014, arrivals of Canadian visitors to Colombia increased by 8.6%, while departures of Colombians to the country increased by 3.5% between January and June, compared to the same period in 2013.

The president of the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies, ANATO, Paula Cortés Calle, assured that these figures, revealed by Migración Colombia, are a sample of the good results that in terms of tourism the FTA that our government signed with the three Canadians years ago.

“Since April 2011, when the trade agreement was signed, tourism exchanges have been much more dynamic, to the point that Canada is currently among the top 10 countries sending visitors to Colombia. Five years ago, Canadians hardly considered us as their vacation and business destination, but that has changed.“, declared the union leader.

Between January and June 2014, 23,751 Canadians arrived in different cities across the country, including those offering sun and beach products, and in Bogota for business. While in the first half of 2013, there were 21,858 and 41,431 for the whole year.

The good relations between travel agencies and Canadian tourism were reaffirmed with the participation of nationals in business conferences of this country and vice versa, added to the support of Proexport for Canadian agents to come to Colombia in order to know the national tourism products. .

Likewise, the meeting of Maxime Bernier, Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Agriculture of Canada, with Cortés Calle, which took place on August 12, with the aim of strengthening ties between the two nations in matters exchange of visitors. Moment which the president of ANATO took advantage of to invite the Canadian delegation to participate in the XXIV Tourist Showcase which will take place next February.

“This situation is an obvious consequence of the benefits provided by trade agreements with major economies. This is a way to put Colombia on the radar of investors and tourists from other countries.»concluded Paula Cortés Calle.