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The Colombian destinations that Trip Advisor included in its annual selection of the best beaches to visit around the world were San Andrés and Santa Marta, particularly those of Tayrona Park and Playa Blanca.
Said locations were on the list of the top 10 of South America, alongside Rio de Janeiro and Punta del Este.
The selection was based on the places most recommended by millions of the site' s users last year. The site published user' s reviews of destinations visited and those reviews influence decisions other travelers make about were to visit.
" The selected destinations are part of the elite beaches that received the highest opinion and votes of millions of travelers that highlighted the services and natural beauty of those places," expressed Christine Peterson, the president of Trip Advisor.
She added that " all of them have to do with the local tourism industry and the selected beaches should feel very proud to be a part of that group."
San Andrés and Santa Marta are part of PROCOLOMBIA' s international promotion to position Colombia as a tourist destination.
According to the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism' s figures, based on information from Colombia' s Immigration department, in 2011, 20,437 foreign visitors visited Santa Marta, implying an increase of 12.7% over last year (18,128 in total). For its part San Andrés' share was 2.9% in 2011. So far this year Santa Marta has recorded an increase of tourist visits of 9.2%, and San Andrés an increase of 3.2%.
