Translated by Andrés Martínez Forero
‘Bogotá, My City, My Home’ is rising as a must-visit destination in the region! This is reflected in the results of the 2024 Grand Travelers’ Survey, a key study conducted by the Bogotá Tourism Observatory under the Bogotá Tourism Institute. The survey, carried out among more than 8,000 travelers between November and December 2024, analyzes tourism trends in the capital, offering key insights into visitor profiles, behaviors, and perceptions of the city.
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According to the research, Bogotá welcomed 14,074,859 tourists in 2024, marking a 14% increase compared to 2023 and a 12.9% rise from 2019.
Regarding domestic tourism, Bogotá welcomed 12.2 million Colombian tourists, reflecting an 11.3% increase compared to 2023 and a 15.6% rise from 2019.
Andrés Santamaría, Bogotá’s Tourism Director, emphasized the importance of the report:
“This study is crucial for understanding tourism trends in Bogotá and identifying opportunities for growth. One key finding is the potential of transit travelers—over 1.6 million passengers connected through Bogotá, yet most never left the airport. We must develop stopover strategies to attract these travelers, showcase our city, and boost the local economy. Additionally, this study helps pinpoint challenges, such as mobility, that we can address alongside other sectors to strengthen Bogotá as a competitive and attractive destination.”
Bogotá is drawing more international visitors, with 1.8 million foreign tourists in 2024—a 35.1% increase from 2023 and a 98% recovery of pre-pandemic levels. The top countries of origin were United States (16.8%), Venezuela (14.6%), Peru (9.5%), and Spain (8.6%). Notably, Venezuelan tourism doubled from 8.2% in 2023 to 14.6% in 2024, making Venezuela the second-largest source of tourists.
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Who Visits Bogotá and Why?
According to the survey, most tourists are between 31 and 45 years old, representing 50% of international visitors and 37.1% of domestic travelers.
Among international tourists, 38.1% travel solo, 29.7% with family, and 23% with a partner. For domestic tourists, 46.7% travel solo, but family trips have increased to 36.8%.
International tourists primarily visit Bogotá for vacations, recreation, and leisure (58%), followed by visiting family and friends (22.8%) and business or professional activities (7.8%). Domestic tourists mainly travel to visit family and friends (41.4%), with vacations and leisure (17.2%) as the second reason, and work-related travel (11.3%) in third place.
How Long Do Tourists Stay and Where Do They Stay?
Regarding the length of stay, 44.7% of international tourists stayed in Bogotá between 4 and 7 nights, while 15.8% stayed between 8 and 15 nights. On the other hand, domestic tourists preferred shorter stays, with 27.6% staying for 2 nights and 18.1% for 3 nights.
Hotels remain the primary accommodation choice for international tourists (38.4%), although the use of short-term rentals such as Airbnb has increased to 20%. In the case of domestic tourists, 63.5% opted to stay at the homes of family or friends, while only 23.4% chose hotels.
What do tourists do in Bogotá?
The most common activities among international tourists were cultural, historical, and architectural experiences (73.2%), followed by exploring local gastronomy (62.1%) and engaging in nature-related activities (54.2%), the latter gaining significant traction in the survey. Meanwhile, domestic tourists highlighted their interest in cultural activities (35.9%), gastronomy (35.2%), and shopping at malls (34.2%).
Among the most visited sites, Monserrate continues to lead the list, attracting 65.3% of international tourists and 29.3% of domestic tourists. La Candelaria Historic Center (60.5% of international tourists and 27.3% of domestic tourists), the Gold Museum (47.4%), Chorro de Quevedo (46.8%), and Plaza de Bolívar (40.5%) follow it.
Transportation and Tourist Spending
Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport handled over 45 million passengers in 2024, surpassing Mexico City’s airport for the first time. Regarding transportation within the city, international tourists predominantly used ride-hailing apps (73.2%), whereas domestic tourists showed a more balanced distribution: 41.4% used taxis, 34.9% used public transportation, and 34.9% opted for ride-hailing apps.
The average spending of international tourists was COP $2,284,451 per visit, with a daily expenditure of COP $415,355. For domestic tourists, the average spending was COP $556,370 per visit, with a daily expenditure of COP $123,638. The main categories of spending included food (24.2% for international tourists and 23.9% for domestic tourists), cultural activities (21.2% for international tourists), and local transportation (23.5% for domestic tourists).
Transit Tourists: A Missed Opportunity
A key finding of the study was the identification of 1,658,117 passengers who had layovers in Bogotá between November and December 2024. Among them, 495,000 had a connection time of more than five hours, representing a significant opportunity to develop stopover tourism—an initiative that allows transit passengers to explore the city during their waiting time.
However, 95% of international tourists and 85.7% of domestic tourists remained inside the airport during their layovers, highlighting the need to strengthen strategies that encourage these travelers to step outside and experience Bogotá. Among those who did leave the airport, the most popular activities were visiting the Historic Center, taking part in gastronomic tours, and shopping in commercial areas.
Tourist Perception & Areas for Improvement
Tourists generally have a positive perception of Bogotá. 97.9% of international visitors and 95.7% of domestic travelers said they would return to the city. Overall, 79.5% of international tourists and 84.5% of domestic tourists rated their experience positively.
Nonetheless, stopover tourism remains an untapped opportunity, as a large proportion of transit passengers do not leave the airport. Bogotá has the potential to transform these layovers into unique tourism experiences by offering specially designed packages that allow travelers to explore the city within a few hours, thereby contributing to the local economy.
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The 2024 Travelers’ Study confirms that Bogotá continues to be an attractive and growing destination, with rising tourist arrivals, a broader range of experiences, and a strong post-pandemic recovery. However, challenges remain in areas such as mobility, accessibility, and optimizing stopover tourism—key factors that need to be addressed to further enhance the city’s competitiveness in the tourism sector.
Explore both famous and hidden tourist gems on the Bogotá Tourism Portal: https://www.visitbogota.co/en.
Watch this video to get a glimpse of Bogotá’s most iconic sites, its food, cultural plans, attractions, and natural landscapes. At 2,600 meters (8,530 feet) above sea level, Bogotá is a one-of-a-kind destination.
