Medellin, Host of the Nature Tourism Business Matchmaking Forum

A total of 41 international wholesalers from 10 countries met on Thursday and Friday in Medellin at the Colombia Nature Travel Mart, a Business Matchmaking Forum specialized in the promotion of Colombia’s nature tourism.

During their two-day visit to Medellin with the support of PROCOLOMBIA, this group of international entrepreneurs held business meetings with a host of 59 Colombian tour operators from 18 departments specialized in nature tourism.

“The tourist industry is one of the cornerstones for Colombia’s economic and social development and particularly nature tourism has a great potential to position the country in the international market,” said the President of PROCOLOMBIA, Maria Claudia Lacouture.

International wholesalers attending the event came from Germany, United States, Holland, Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Spain.

Colombia’s natural resources boast 20% of all bird species, 17% of amphibian species, and 8% of freshwater fish species in the world, which together with its 31 natural parks open to the public, are but a part of the country's potential in this tourist sector.

All the options offered by cloud forests or moorlands in the Andes, or in the jungles in Choco or the Amazon, among others, allowed PROCOLOMBIA to identify bird-watching opportunities for visitors from Holland, United Kingdom, Spain, United States, and Japan.

Whale watching in the Colombian Pacific also lures lots of international travelers, particularly from Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador, etc.

Hiking is yet another choice for large markets such as the United States, England, and Germany, presenting them with a breathtaking landscape diversity to enjoy the flora and fauna in the departments of Choco, Nariño, Cauca, Meta, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Boyaca, Norte de Santander, Magdalena, Quindio, Risaralda, and Caldas.

“As a general rule, nature tourism enthusiasts spend around 8-14 days abroad; this tourist sector comprises well-educated and high-profile people aged 35-54 years mainly interested in unique natural areas,” explained the President of PROCOLOMBIA.

PROCOLOMBIA promotes Colombia’s nature tourism products and services abroad through the Colombia is Magical Realism campaign, which unveils the unique experiences available in the country, targeted to wholesalers, tour operators, and travelers.

Entrepreneurs Take a Tour Around the Country

Prior to the business event in Medellin, 38 international entrepreneurs took familiarization trips to learn about Colombia’s nature tourism products and services.

The itinerary included agritourism experiences in the Coffee Cultural Landscape and visits to Valle del Cocoray and the Otun Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary (Santuario de Flora y Fauna Otun Quimbaya).

In addition, the entrepreneurs embarked on adventure bike rides in Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, followed by visits to lookout points in Santander and paragliding in locations like La Tulia, Roldanillo, in Valle del Cauca.

They arrived in Caldas where they visited the local hot springs while another group enjoyed a whale watching trip in the municipality of Nuqui in Choco.

Lastly, the group visited Caño Cristales in Meta to then go on a flora and fauna discovery trip in the fabulous Colombian Amazon.

“These tours allowed international entrepreneurs to learn about Colombia’s unique experiences and share them with their clients, resulting in more and more foreign tourists visiting the country.”