Colombian tourism up 8.2% from Canada, fuelled by robust air connectivity
Colombian tourist board ProColombia is welcoming the re-establishment of an air link between this country and the Colombian Caribbean Sea beach retreat of San Andres, saying it will better enable Colombia to attract those of us looking for a warm-weather retreat at the height of winter.
Sunwing Airlines this month began weekly Montreal-San Andres service that will run through March, once again enabling Canadians to travel directly to San Andres, part of an archipelago that also includes Providencia and Santa Catalina.
San Andrés Island has seen direct connections with this country over the past 7 years with both Sunwing and AIr Transat flying to it but that air service hasn’t been continuous.
“Under the leadership of Diana Marcela Morales Rojas, minister of trade, industry, and tourism, and with the support of ProColombia and regional entities in the archipelago, this operation marks a new boost to Colombia’s air connectivity in the Caribbean. And we are very optimistic. We believe this service has all the potential to become a regular seasonal route in the coming years. Canadians are increasingly seeking destinations that combine relaxation with nature, sustainability, community-based tourism, and outdoor adventure, and San Andrés brings all of that together beautifully. The appeal of the destination aligns very well with what the Canadian market is looking for,” said Luis Alejandro Dávila, tourism vice president at ProColombia.
San Andres is known for white-sand beaches but Davila told Travel Courier it shouldn’t be viewed as a beach destination alone.
“We certainly continue to promote San Andrés as a sun-and-sand destination, but our approach today goes far beyond that,” he said. “The island has a strong Colombian and Afro-Caribbean identity, and sustainability is at the heart of how we position it. We want travelers not only to enjoy the beaches and the crystal-clear waters but also to engage with the island in meaningful ways, whether through world-class scuba diving among hundreds of marine species, including sharks, or by participating in coral-reef restoration initiatives.
“At the same time, it’s important for Canadians to know that San Andrés is just the beginning of what Colombia offers. Our country is incredibly diverse, which is why we’ve divided it into six major tourism regions. It’s a helpful way to showcase the variety of landscapes, cultures, and experiences available. Exploring Colombia can feel like traveling through several different countries in one trip, and San Andrés is a fantastic gateway to start that journey.”
The new service comes as Davila reports his homeland is doing well in the Canadian market, helping Colombian tourism maintain growth..
“Colombia is having a very strong year again, and Canada continues to play an important role in that growth,” he continued. “In 2024, the country welcomed more than 7 million non-resident visitors from around the world, which represented an increase of nearly 15% over the previous year. That momentum has carried into 2025 as well: between January and September alone, more than 3.3 million non-resident visitors arrived in Colombia — about a 5.2% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
“The Canadian market, in particular, has shown consistent and encouraging growth. In 2024, more than 101,000 Canadians travelled to Colombia, an 8.2% increase over 2023. And between January and September 2025, we registered over 75,000 Canadian visitors, which is a 1.8% rise year over year. These results reflect a growing interest and confidence among Canadian travelers who are discovering or rediscovering Colombia’s diversity and tourism offerings.”
Connectivity is seen as playing a big role in the upward trend. Colombia is now linked to the world through 30 international airlines that provide direct service to 11 Colombian cities from 30 countries and 56 international destinations. Canada’s connectivity is seen as particularly robust, with Avianca, Air Canada, and Air Transat all operating direct flights from Toronto and Montreal, together offering a combined 25 weekly frequencies and more than 5,000 seats per week.
“This year has also brought several exciting developments, including the announcement of four new direct routes between Canada and Colombia,” Davila reported. “For the week of Dec. 1-7, for example, the direct service between both countries included Air Canada’s flights from Montreal and Toronto to Bogotá, Air Transat’s flights from both cities to Cartagena, and multiple Avianca flights from Toronto and Montreal to Bogotá. Altogether, that amounted to 25 weekly flights and 5,291 seats available. All of this demonstrates that Canadians are traveling to Colombia in growing numbers and that the air connectivity between our two countries continues to expand, making it even easier for that trend to continue.”
Meanwhile, ProColombia is preparing to launch a new training program specifically for Canadian travel agents that will give them the opportunity to become certified as Colombia Travel Agent Specialists. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to continue strengthening Colombia’s presence in the Canadian market.
