In spite of the global economic crisis hammering the tourist industry elsewhere, the city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia’s number one tourist attraction, continues to exceed forecasts and attract an ever growing numbers of visitors to its fortress-like walls.
Government and Cartagena tourist operator estimates show that once again in the recent holiday season – spanning between December 1 2008 and January 12 2009 - Cartagena is by far and away Colombia’s most visited location. Early reports show that an estimated 1,100,000 people, both from Colombia and overseas, came to Cartagena in this period showing a 16.5 per cent increase on the 2007/2008 season.
Tourist Arriving by Land to Cartagena
Despite many reports claiming that the majority of visitors would be daytrippers hopping off luxury cruiseliners so beloved by the city’s tourist board and gift shops, the central Bus Terminal registered a 20.5 per cent increase with 482,720 travellers passing through their gates. This represents a staggering increase of 82,317 on last year.
Local police have delivered statistics that show that people arriving in their own vehicles climbed as well with 116,245 vehicles arriving in the city. They approximate that this number of private cars transported in the region of 348,000 people intent on hitting Cartagena’s beaches and filling the restaurants.
Cruise ships Arriving in Cartagena
The cruise ships that dock in Cartagena are big business and the local authorities know this with every individual stepping off their cruiseliner estimated to spend in the region of $100-$150 in a few short hours one can understand why. Thirty-one cruiseliners docked in Cartagena in the festive period making it one of the busiest times ever for the city. Roughly 60,000 tourists came to Cartagena in this fashion, of course not forgetting the some 25,000 crew that accompanied them.
The nearby idyllic Islas del Rosario – sandy palm-lined banks and small islands found some 40 minutes away from Cartagena – received an astonishing 71,000 visitors.
Arriving by Air to Cartagena
Just over 15,000 foreign nationals arrived in Caratgena by air while roughly 78,000 Colombians preferred to fly here. For information about internal flights in Colombia see here.
Hotel Occupancy Rates in Cartagena
The two largest hotel unions and regulators in Cartagena, Cotelco and Asotelca, claimed to maintain a median occupancy rate of above 70 per cent for the whole season and on some days stated a 100 per cent occupancy rate.
Hostels in Cartagena
At the other end of the scale, hostals for backpackers, flashpackers and other economically minded travellers sent out a circular in the early days of December to inform prospective visitors that there were no beds available until after January 11 2009.
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