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Colombia Tourism
Tourism, normally a vital component of the service
sector--
particularly for a country as diverse culturally,
geographically,
and historically as Colombia--did not contribute
significantly to
economic growth. Although Colombia had attractive, modern
hotels in
the capital city and other major metropolitan centers and
offered
natural attractions such as the Caribbean coastline,
remote
jungles, and steep mountain ranges, persistent reports of
kidnappings, assassinations, drug-related violence, and
guerrilla
activities diminished tourist interest in Colombia, even
though
foreigners generally were not the targets of this
violence. The
government did not actively pursue tourism.
The cost of Colombia's poor image was made evident by
statistics. In 1978 more than 826,000 tourists contributed
US$328.5
million to Colombia's foreign exchange earnings. By 1984
tourist
arrivals had dropped to about 715,000 and had rendered
only US$231
million in foreign exchange. The prospects for expanded
tourist
receipts, despite enormous potential, were dismal under
the social
conditions prevailing in the late 1980s. Analysts did not
expect
violence to subside, and as a result they did not believe
that
tourism would recover significantly.
Data as of December 1988
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