During the past month, several communication media of the world included positive information regarding Colombia. This allows foreseeing the rebirth of the country’s image in economic, social and security issues among others and will probably attract numerous tourists and people staying at hotels and holiday villas in Colombia.

Some of these reports were:

• The editor of Lonely Planet, the travel guide with most sales in the world, described Colombia as one of the 10 best destinations for 2006, using adjectives such as “modern, vibrant and full of friendly Colombians”, surpassing even Germany which will host the Soccer World Cup!

• The New York Times published two consecutive articles titled “Now Bogotá is not only for the Brave” and “The Coffee Route” which, with photographs described the different sceneries with remarks like: “Bogotá Colombia, the fourth biggest city in South America, with seven million inhabitants, is a scene that vibrates with restaurants, world class museums and an enchanting colonial neighborhood”. “Bogotá is a fabulous place to visit”.  “Traveling through the coffee country is easy. The owners of the inns offer to take tourists in their cars to nearby towns and do tourism”. “You travel through the atmosphere, through history.”

• The special Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, currently circulating, dedicated 10 pages to Colombia. Scenarios such as the Majagua Island, near Cartagena, shared pages with Hollywood, Tahiti, and the Bahamas among others.
• Last week, The Guardian, a widely distributed newspaper in the United Kingdom, published three pages in its travel section with full color photographs of Cartagena. The article highlights the city’s security and history. Part of the article reads: “The festival (there is festival), was part of this as stated by Vikram Seth: This will mark a difference in Colombia. This is a vote of confidence from foreigners. Tourism can play a similar role, especially if it is focused on the many small and sustainable projects that are flourishing in the country”.

• This month Fashion Business International, published six pages about the textile industry – Colombian confection, says the title: “Medellin, the Milan of Latin America”, and most important magazine in the west coast of the United States, Apparel News Magazine did the same in five pages.

• In the food sector, the English magazine Fresh Produce published two pages on the flower production in Colombia, while the edition of the Florida Cruise Association to be distributed during the Sea trade Shipping 2006 fair, highlights San Andres as a tourism port and the efforts made in Cartagena by tour operators and service providers in order to adequately assist tourists. American Airlines magazine, Nexos, currently circulating dedicated the cover to Andrea Echeverri and 5 inside pages to Cartagena de Indias.

• The TELEHIT WEEKEND team was in Cartagena last week taping scenes from Cartagena for a special program aimed to the younger audience of 50 countries around the world. The members of the Televisa production team, walked the streets of the old city, visited the Islas Del Rosario and other places of tourist interest such as the El Totumo volcano, where they posed for photographs. The project is part of Proexport’s activities: promoting the arrival of foreigners to the country, and divulge the brand “Colombia es Pasión”. It had the cooperation of the Colombian Embassy in Mexico.