Hotel occupancy in Colombia remains stable until 2025, but revenues are falling in several regions.
According to data from Cotelco, based on DANE's Monthly Lodging Survey (EMA), the hotel occupancy rate in Colombia between January and August 2025 remained virtually the same as the same period in 2024 , demonstrating "a stagnation in this indicator."
Cotelco highlights that in 2025, six regions of the country experienced declines in hotel occupancy. Photo: iStock
However, compared to 2023, when the average occupancy rate was 52 percent, there is a decrease of 2.3 percentage points, while compared to 2022, the drop amounts to 4.3 points , reflecting a sustained decline over the past two years.
Cotelco highlights that in 2025 six regions of the country presented decreases in hotel occupancy, the most significant being in the Amazon (-8.6 percentage points), followed by Bogotá (-1.8 pp), the Caribbean region (-0.9 pp) and Antioquia (-0.9 pp) .
Regarding real income from tourist accommodations, a national decrease of 2.1% was observed between January and August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Between January and August, a national decline of 2.1% in real income was observed. Photo: iStock
Eight regions showed declines in their income, with the most pronounced decreases in the Amazon (-19%), Cartagena (-3.8%), Bogotá (-3.7%) and Santander (-2.8%).
According to the union, although hotel occupancy remains stable compared to 2024, data shows that the Colombian tourism sector requires clear measures to stimulate demand, improve revenue, and ensure the sustainability of tourism throughout the country.
"The EMA figures demonstrate the need for a public policy that boosts domestic tourism, promotes formalization, and guarantees equal conditions for all stakeholders in the sector, so that growth translates into sustainable development and quality employment ," concluded José Andrés Duarte, CEO of Cotelco.
ANGIE RODRÍGUEZ - TRAVEL EDITORIAL - @ANGS0614
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