May 21, 2015

Planning a Summer Vacation? Discover Colombia.

It’s that time of year. With temperatures warming up and the official start of summer only a month away, vacation destinations are top of mind, and Colombia should be at the top of the list. From the beauty of coastal Cartagena to the mountains of Medellín, millions of international travelers are flocking to Colombia. Since 2010 alone, Colombia has experienced a dramatic increase in visitors, from an estimated 2.6 million per year to an estimated 4.2 million last year.

A Look at the Facts:

• In 2014, the greatest share of foreign tourists continued to be Americans.

Cartagena

• During the last decade, the number of foreign tourists traveling to Colombia has increased at arate four times higher than the world average.

What to Know About Travel Between the United States and Colombia

With added flights from more U.S. cities, and growing demand, it’s easier than ever to visit Colombia:

• Via airplane, Colombia is just two hours from Miami and five hours from New York and Washington,DC. Avianca, the flag carrier airline of Colombia, provides direct flights to Bogotá from JFK Airport,Miami and Dulles International Airports.

• Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport is the first in South America for cargo and third for air travelby passengers, making it an important logistics hub for business activity and connections to majorcities in the region.

• On a weekly basis, 919 direct flightsconnect Colombia to the rest of the world.Over 200 of these connect eight cities inthe United States with seven cities inColombia. In the United States, there aredirect flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale,Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Dallas,New York and Houston to Bogotá,Cartagena, Medellín, Cali, Armenia,Pereira and Barranquilla via AviancaTaca, United Airlines, American Airlines,

Catch Up on the Buzz

“With infrastructure projects that are bringing architecturally exciting libraries and parks to impoverished neighborhoods, and creative methods of transportation, Medellín is one of the most progressive cities

in Latin America.” – The New York Times

“Medellín has become the superstar of Latin America, a mecca for urban planning that seeks to serve all citizens…” – The Boston Globe

“The appeal is easy enough to understand: My flight from New York took just 4½ hours; the sun shines year round; the dollar is strong; and as one traveler from Chicago pointed out, it still feels

authentic.” – The Wall Street Journal

“And, like so many experiences in Colombia, you may need to pinch yourself to remember that this is real.” – New York Daily News

In the News:

• “Colombia Seeks to Boost Bogota Flights 50%Amid Surging Demand”

• “Delta will fly to Cartagena and Medellin inColombia”

• “South America Is a Tough Spot for U.S.Airlines, But Travel to Colombia Is Booming”

Delta, JetBlue, LAN and Spirit Airlines.

• In June of this year, Avianca will inauguarate the first direct flight between Bogotá and Los Angeles, connecting Colombia directly to the West Coast.

In November 2010, Colombia and the United States signed an Open Skies Agreement to expand and liberalize air transport between the two countries. The agreement fully entered into force at the beginning of this year.

For more information about travel, destinations and events in Colombia, visit the official travel guide.

Ambassador Villegas Meets With Philadelphia Mayor Nutter

On Tuesday, May 12, Ambassador Villegas met with Mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter. During the meeting, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Mayor for his administration’s continued support of the city’s Colombian community. Ambassador Villegas also took the opportunity to give a detailed presentation on the great transformation that has taken place in Colombia in recent years. The meeting was part of the Ambassador’s two-day visit to Philadephia, which also included meetings with investors and other members of the local business community to discuss two-way trade and investment opportunities, as well as Colombia’s transformation and the country’s economic outlook. While in Philadelphia, Ambassador Villegas delivered remarks at the University of Pennsylvania and at an event hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Pan American Association, and met with the local Colombian community.

“Experts, Entrepreneurs and Academics Gather at EmTech in Colombia”

In C ase You M issed It…

Mayor Nutter presents the Ambassador with a replica of the Liberty Bell, a symbol of the city of Philadelphia.

La Prensa – May 13, 2015

Excerpt: “Technologies such as 3D printing, nano satellites and urban mobility solutions are among the topics of discussion at EmTech, a gathering of experts, entrepreneurs and academics in this northwestern Colombian city organized by the Spanish-language edition of MIT Technology Review.

“The Emerging Technologies, or EmTech, conference has been the benchmark for MIT experts for more than a decade and this is the third time it is held in Colombia.

“‘MIT Technology Review is an innovation catalyst,’ Kathleen Kennedy, who runs MIT Enterprise Forum and the journal, said in a press conference. ‘We seek to establish a dialogue and present testimonies about emerging technologies.’

“Latin America ‘is growing rapidly’ and Colombia is on a growth track, Kennedy told Colombia.inn, an Efe-operated news agency.

“Colombia has implemented ‘very strong’ policies that encourage the creation of new technologies, among them the Vive Digital plan that the government launched in 2010 to provide mass access to the Internet and develop an environment for digital initiatives, Kennedy said.”

Get the full story here.

Colombian Embassy Welcomes Over 7,500 People During Passport DC

On Saturday, May 2, the Colombian Embassy joined other local embassies participating in Passport DC, a Washington, DC-wide event, by opening up the Ambassador’s Residence to the public. The free, full-day event included a tour, food, dancing, a live concert and much more. Special guests included Juan Valdez, Verny Varela and El Tayrona. In total, the Embassy was host to over 7,500 visitors.

Get to know Colombia. Learn more at www.colombiaemb.org.

El Tayrona dances for visitors at the Ambassador’s Residence during Passport DC.