Q: Does Colombia have any other upcoming initiatives?
A: A few weeks ago, we launched a comprehensive economic reactivation plan for the trade, industry and tourism sectors, under the Government strategy “Commitment to Colombia”.
In this sense, at ProColombia we are working on a recovery plan focusing our efforts on the following priorities:
- adapting to change,
- facilitating air travel connectivity,
- and reinforcing the international traveller’s trust in their ability to safely visit our destinations.
1. Adapting to change: Our Government has implemented relief initiatives to assist businesses from different sectors, which include tax waivers, payroll payment assistance and forbearance on social-security obligations. In addition to this, the government has extended lines of credit through government-controlled financial institutions and has reduced interest rates.
The credit line, Colombia Responds, was launched for the tourism and aviation sectors. It aims to mitigate the impact the pandemic will have on these industries. In addition, we established deadline extensions for taxpayers in the sector and promoted the reduction of import tariffs for some supplies related to the aviation sector. And finally, President Duque announced a new credit line of 1 billion pesos, with a 90 percent Government guarantee. The credit is payable in a five-year term.
On the other hand, at ProColombia we are providing tools to help the travel sector’s companies maintain their businesses through refocusing and resizing strategies, as well as redesigning products and experiences according to new types of consumers and changes in market behaviour.
We launched virtual training through our Export Training Program in Tourism. This tool offers a series of courses in different topics, including biosecurity, tourism packages and sustainability, among others. In three months, around 16,300 tour operators, travel agencies and other companies have participated in the courses and seminars.
2. Facilitating air travel connectivity: We have reduced sales tax on tickets that have Colombia as their origin or destination, applicable to airlines from 19 to 5 percent. On 21 July the country did its first local test flight between Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, two cities located in the northeast of Colombia.
3. Reinforcing the international traveller’s trust in their ability to safely visit and travel within Colombia: ProColombia created and launched a multi-channel campaign in March with the message “Let’s take care now so we can meet again soon”, which is now in its second phase – “We’ll meet soon” – to send an empathic message to our travellers around the world. This last phase has reached twelve international markets and more than 75 million impressions.
With these priorities in mind, we are dedicated to supporting the recovery of Colombia’s tourism industry. We remain optimistic about the future. We believe that the tourist industry, which promotes social and cultural respect, sustainability and joy, will be at the centre of the world’s recovery.
We hope that we can soon welcome back travellers from around the world and share with them Colombia’s immense beauty and charm.