Between January and September 2026, the José María Córdova Airport recorded 54,356 fewer visitors compared to the same period of the previous year, marking a 6.2% drop in incoming travelers according to figures from the Medellín Tourism Secretariat.
Tourism Contraction Extends Beyond Medellín
Ana María López Acosta, secretary of tourism of Medellín, notes that the downward trend is not isolated to the city. Nationwide, the country has experienced an 8% decrease in tourism, with El Dorado Airport recording the steepest decline at 9%.
Several distinct factors shaped tourism during 2026. The first semester was marked by national elections across the country, while the Colombian peso strengthened against the US dollar, making travel more expensive for foreign visitors.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup held in Mexico, Canada, and the United States also drew travelers away from other regions. López Acosta states that many trips originally planned for the destination zone were redirected toward the soccer tournament.
Impact on Local Businesses and Restaurants
The reduction in visitors directly affects the hospitality, entertainment, and restaurant sectors through lower customer volumes. Concurrently, local consumers are exercising more caution with their spending.
Luca Siani, a chef and journalist who owns an Italian restaurant in Sabaneta, reports that September marked the worst month for the local gastronomy business in seven years. He attributes part of this difficulty to increases in the minimum wage that raised operating costs.
According to the Colombian Association of Gastronomy and Tourism, 520 restaurants have closed in Medellín so far in 2026. Business owners note that reports of thefts and scams targeting foreigners spread quickly through international communities, creating concerns regarding city safety.
Prioritizing domestic consumers through accessible pricing strategies may offer a sustainable path forward for businesses traditionally dependent on international foot traffic.
Shifting Focus Toward Domestic Consumers
Ana María López Acosta anticipates that tourism figures may recover toward the end of the year. However, she emphasizes that sector entrepreneurs should develop offerings tailored to local residents who remain in the city year-round.
Echoing this perspective, chef Luca Siani encourages restaurants in the city to lower prices on certain dishes to attract a broader local audience, particularly during periods far removed from payroll cycles. He urges local diners not to turn their backs on neighborhood establishments.
Factors Driving Decline in International Tourism to Medellín
How many fewer foreign visitors arrived in Medellín between January and September 2026?
Data from the Medellín Tourism Secretariat indicates that 54,356 fewer visitors arrived through the José María Córdova Airport migration checkpoint, representing a 6.2% decrease compared to the same months in the previous year.
What factors are driving the decline in international tourism?
City officials attribute the contraction to the first-semester election period, the appreciation of the Colombian peso against the dollar, the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, and safety concerns stemming from reported thefts against foreign travelers.
How are local restaurants and businesses coping with the downturn?
Establishments face reduced customer traffic and cautious local spending, contributing to the closure of 520 restaurants in Medellín this year. Business owners like Luca Siani are responding by adjusting prices to appeal more directly to domestic diners.
How will local dining establishments balance the need for accessible pricing with rising operational costs in the months ahead?
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