Colombia’s trade minister said Monday the country’s tourism industry created 69,000 jobs in 2012.
In addition to the new jobs, the sector has also gained 137% in its investment budget “which confirms our interest to promote tourism as an engine for regional development,” said Trade Minister Sergio Diaz-Granados.
The Minister also mentioned that the country-wide goal to increase foreign tourist numbers to 4 million by 2014 and likewise an income of $4 billion needs to be fulfilled with an added goal of bringing at least one million people to the national parks. Colombia received over 1.5 million foreign visitors in 2012.
FACT SHEET: Colombia tourism statistics
The minister, who spoke in the Caribbean coastal city of Cartagena, explained that the successes of the tourism sector made it the country’s third largest exporter behind oil and coal.
Sources
- El turismo con indicadores positivos: Ministro Diaz Granados (Ministerio de comercio, industria, turismo)
- ‘Realismo Magico’ traeria 4 millones de turistas en 2014 (El Universal)