Colombia's tourism growth in 2025 exceeds global trend
Recently, the World Economic Forum projected several indicators of global tourism performance for the coming years. The travel and tourism industry, the organization notes, has had one of the most impressive recoveries in modern economic history , exceeding pre-pandemic expectations and reaffirming its vital role in global prosperity.
The travel and tourism industry has had one of the most impressive recoveries. Photo: iStock
“With Japan and Greece welcoming record numbers of visitors and new partnerships reshaping international travel corridors, the sector's resilience is clear. However, rapid technological change, evolving consumer demands, and growing geopolitical and environmental pressures signal a critical inflection point for the industry,” he explains.
The organization estimates that the sector will contribute $16 trillion to global GDP by 2034, more than 11 percent of the global economy, as the industry "faces unprecedented growth" amid complex challenges, including environmental pressures, labor shortages, and tensions between visitors and residents.
Furthermore, by 2030, India and China are expected to jointly account for more than 25 percent of international outbound travel .
By 2030, India and China are expected to account for more than 25% of international travel. Photo: iStock
In this context, Colombia continues to position itself as one of the most promising destinations in this sector , not only nationally but also internationally.
"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 ," said Paula Cortés Calle, CEO of Anato.
Not all of the global outlook is positive. According to this analysis, annual global GDP growth is stagnant at 1.1 percent. In Colombia's case, this indicator grew by 2.7 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. In this sense, it is above the global average.
Likewise, per capita tourism spending in low-income economies is projected to fall by 22 percent by 2030. However, Colombia appears to be moving away from that trend. In fact, in 2024, this spending grew by around 5 percent, a trend that is expected to continue.
In 2024, more than 6.9 million non-resident foreign visitors arrived in Colombia. Photo: iStock
Another key aspect mentioned by the Forum is the growth of international tourism, which is expected to increase by 29 percent globally by 2030, a trend that is evident in Colombia.
In 2024, for example, more than 6.9 million non-resident foreign visitors arrived, representing a 13.3 percent increase compared to 2023.
Although the country received 2,795,132 foreign visitors in the first five months of 2025, a 0.3 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, non-resident foreign visitors totaled 1,904,574, a 6.6 percent 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 been able to leverage its cultural and natural wealth, as well as the warmth of its people, to build a successful tourism narrative,” the union leader concluded.
ANGIE RODRÍGUEZ - TRAVEL EDITORIAL - @ANGS0614
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