Colombia was once considered dangerous for tourists, but those days are over. The country has been dedicated to improving its safety for decades, signing a peace deal with the FARC, tackling drug trafficking and believing in the value of tourism and investmenst. To those asking, “How safe is Colombia?” and “Is Colombia safe?” we say, “Colombia has changed.”
A noticeable transformation
Colombia welcomed a record number of visitors in 2018. More than 4.2 million tourists traveled to the country, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. The country received 7.6% more foreign visitors in 2018 compared to the previous year. The buoyancy of Colombia’s tourism sector shows how the country has transformed itself in recent years, and proves that the answer to, “Are tourists safe in Colombia?” is a resounding YES.
Colombia went from being a problem country, to being a solution country the moment it signed its peace treaty with the FARC, according to ProColombia. “Thanks to the peace treaty, Colombia is safer and has a better reputation internationally, before, all we saw was negative news from Colombia, now, we see extremely positive news.”
One of the many figures that explain the change in international perceptions of safety in Colombia is the fall in its homicide rate, which dropped to a 30-year low in 2017, at 24 per 100,000 inhabitants. There has been a 97% decrease in deaths related to the internal conflict.
The fact visitors no longer ask, “How safe is it?” has led to a boom in tourism from countries such as Spain, Germany, the United States, Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina. Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena and Cali are at the top of visitors’ lists, but areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as the Amazon region, and the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, are drawing visitors too, thanks to their beautiful scenery and unique biodiversity.
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Visitors safety is a priority for Colombia and thats why the country is becoming safer every day. If you’re keen to enjoy the experience of a lifetime, discover more here about how to make your trip to Colombia unforgettable. The moment you stop asking, “Is Colombia safe?” is the moment you can start asking yourself, “What should I pack?”
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