1. HOTEL INFRASTRUCTURE ATTRACTIVE INCENTIVES FOR INVESTMENT IN
THE HOTEL INDUSTRY Exemption from income taxes for a period of 30
years: the exemption will enter into force after the initiation of
operations for hotel services provided in new, remodeled and/ or
expanded hotels from the year 2003 to December 2017. Exemption from
income taxes for a period of 20 years; income from ecotourism
services is exempt for a period of 20 years, following the 2003 tax
year. Tax and customs benefits for capital assets used for tourism-
related exports (Vallejo Plan). GROWTH, CONFIDENCE AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST Libertad y Orden
2. GROWTH IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TO COLOMBIA IS ABOVE THE
WORLD AVERAGE ARRIVAL OF FOREIGN TRAVELERS TO COLOMBIA 2005 2013
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 1,832,098 2013 DYNAMIC
SECTOR IN CONSTANT GROWTH The arrival of foreign travelers to
Colombia has increased from 600,000 in the year 2000 to more than
1.8 million in 2013 with an annual growth of 10%, almost four times
the world average and one of the highest in the region. The number
of visitors to the country on international cruises has grown
sixfold over the last five years. Colombia is becoming established
as an important destination on the Caribbean cruise circuit, with
three ports in Cartagena de Indias, Santa Marta and San Andres. In
2013, Colombia hosted 139 events,
puttingitinthe28thpositionintheICCA ranking. In Latin America,
Colombia is positioned fourth, behind Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.
(ICCA, 2014). Source: Colombian Immigration Department, 2014
Construction of more than 27,000 homes over the last 11 years.
(Portafolio, 2014) Colombia has great potential for investment in
various tourist niches (wellness, nature, sun and beach,
entertainment and urban hotels).
Theluxurysegmentisgrowing.Currentlytherearemorethan20luxuryhotelsdistributed
mainlyaroundthecitiesofBogotaandCartagenadeIndias,and7newhotelsareexpected
to arrive in the country. Colombia has more than 45 million people
and is considered a country with middle to high incomes, according
to the World Bank. As of August 2014, Colombia has more than 930
international flights per week. The average growth in passenger
traffic for national flights over the last five years was 11.3%.
In2012,677studentsgraduatedandenteredprofessionalcareersinhoteladministration
and tourism (and other related careers), representing a growth of
75.4% over 2011 (Ministry of Education).
3. NEW HOTELS AND NEW ROOMS IN COLOMBIA 2004-2014 355 2004 2005
8 31 56 61 63 29 35 32 22 20 9 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
2013 2014 986 1,600 2,272 2,236 2,131 2,655 3,010 2,523 2,677 1,764
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOTEL AND TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE IN
THE FOLLOWING SECTORS: WELLNESS TOURISM: Colombia has great
richness in flora and fauna, biodiversity and different climates
for the development of this product. This biodiversity creates the
opportunity to conduct therapy, create environments and develop
unique products and experiences related to the symbiotic
relationship between nature and wellness. Opportunities: hotel
construction with thalassotherapy centers, hydrotherapy
infrastructure, and hotels with spas or wellness centers (Business
Plan, Wellness Tourism - Productive Transformation Program). URBAN
HOTELS: Colombia has nine urban centers with over 500,000
inhabitants that require a broad supply of rooms due to their high
level of business and commercial activities. Additionally, the
country has become positioned within Latin America as a destination
for holding conferences and conventions, requiring a hotel industry
with convention centers. Opportunities: full, limited, and select
services hotels, and hotels with convention centers. ENTERTAINMENT:
Colombia has a reduced supply of entertainment and limited
infrastructure for large-scale events. Legislation favorable to
investment in the entertainment industry was established via Act
1493 of 2011. Infrastructure investments for large performances
will be 100% deductible from income taxes. Non-resident foreigners
who provide artistic services in public performances will only pay
an income tax of 8%, which will be withheld by the producer or
person responsible for the artistic activity, or the payer. Public
performances will be excluded from VAT, as well as any artistic
services provided in carrying them out. Opportunities: construction
of theme parks, show and event venues (concerts).
NATURE:Colombiahas53millionhectaresofnaturalglades,22millionhectares
of savannah, as well as arid, snow-covered and wetland areas. It is
ranked fourth globally in terms of water resources, and its natural
parks represent 14% of its natural territory. It is the country
with the most biodiversity per square kilometer in the world.
Opportunities:
Eco-Luxuryhotels,eco-gambling,ecolodgesandcomplementary sustainable
infrastructure for nature tourism (nature trails, observation
towers, bridges, environmental management infrastructure, etc.).
(Business Plan, Nature Tourism - Productive Transformation
Program). SUN AND BEACH: Colombias beaches border on the enchanting
waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. There are
world-class attractions such as coral reefs, ecological parks,
aquariums, marine museums and ancient city walls, among others.
Opportunities: luxury hotels, luxury included resorts and golf
resorts. Source: MICT [Ministry of Trade, Industry and
Tourism])
4. COLOMBIA, A COUNTRY WITH MULTIPLE DEVELOPMENT HUBS BOGOTA -
CUNDINAMARCA CARTAGENA DE INDIAS ATLANTICO MAGDALENA ANTIOQUIA
VALLE DEL CAUCA COFFEE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE SANTANDER Hotel
occupancy: 57.77% (2013) - Cotelco 2014. General average rate: USD
129.40. (2013) - Cotelco 2014. Hotel occupancy: 54.5%. (2013) -
Cotelco 2014. General average rate: USD 175.20 (2013) - Cotelco
2014. Hotel occupancy: 58.83%. (2013) - Cotelco 2014. General
average rate: USD 94.20 (2013) - Cotelco 2014. SAN ANDRES
Colombiahasaneconomythatissufficientlystableandwillkeepgrowing,andthisisattractive
for investment. The arrival of large international brands is proof
of confidence in the country. Source: Cotelco 2014; average
representative exchange rate 2013: $1,868.90. ALVARO DIAGO,
PRESIDENT OF THE IHG FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. Hotel
occupancy: 67.62%. (2013) - Cotelco 2014. General average rate: USD
112.40 (2013) - Cotelco 2014. Hotel occupancy: 50.84%. (2013) -
Cotelco 2014. General average rate: USD 99.80 (2013) - Cotelco
2014. Hotel occupancy: 64.0%. (2013) - Cotelco 2014. General
average rate: USD 81.70. (2013) - Cotelco 2014. Hotel occupancy:
45.85% (2013) - Cotelco 2014. General average rate: USD 80.20
(2013) - Cotelco 2014. Hotel occupancy: 39.14%. (2013) - Cotelco
2014. General average rate: USD 83.20 (2013) - Cotelco 2014. Hotel
occupancy: 43.9%. (2013) - Cotelco 2014. General average rate: USD
80.50 (2013) - Cotelco 2014. MAGDALENA SANTANDER
5. HILTON HOTELS: The American chain Hilton Hotels Corporation
inaugurated its first hotel in the Colombian capital, with around
240 rooms in the financial district of Bogota (Calle 73). Hilton
also has a presence under its Hampton brand on the Colombian
Caribbean, in Cartagena de Indias and Barranquilla. ACCOR: The Ibis
Bogota Museo hotel is located in the International Center (one of
the most important commercial areas in the city). It also has a
hotel in Medellin with 216 rooms. MARRIOTT: The U.S. hotel chain
has a presence in Bogota with a 239- room hotel near the city
airport. It also has the hotel JW Marriott in the financial
district of Bogota, with 264 rooms. It expects to open a Marriott
hotel with 180 rooms in Cali. INTERCONTINENTAL:
ThearrivalofthishotelchainsHolidayInnbrandinBogota and in Cartagena
de Indias stands out; between the two hotels there are 331 rooms.
Additionally, there is a Holiday
InnExpresswith76roomsinBogota,onewith98inCucuta and one with 170 in
Bucaramanga. An Intercontinental is currently being built in
Cartagena de Indias. LARGE FOREIGN COMPANIES HAVE CHOSEN COLOMBIA
AS A PLACE TO INVEST
6. In 2014, a global study of 234 cities with more than 2,000
people in 32
countriesdeterminedthatMedellinisthebestcityinLatinAmericatolivein.
Colombia currently has 13 Cultural Heritage of Humanity awards by
UNESCO. In 2011 the Coffee Cultural Landscape was added to this
list. British tour operators chose the country as the Long-Distance
Revelation Destination in 2013, a prestigious award granted by the
magazine Selling Long Haul. Similarly, Tayrona National Park and
Lost City in Santa Marta were destinations selected within the best
trips category for 2012 by National Geographics Travel Magazine.
Cali, the World Salsa Capital, was ranked tenth among the 41 travel
destinations recommended in 2011 by the New York Times. TOURIST
DESTINATIONS IN COLOMBIA ARE BEING RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE COFFEE
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE TAYRONA NATIONAL NATURAL PARK SAN ANDRES
BOGOTA