Medellín Hosts 1.2M Foreign Tourists, Tourism Impact Hits $1.55B
Medellín – October 15, 2026 -- Medellín welcomed 1.2 million foreign tourists in 2025, and the tourism sector generated an economic impact of five trillion pesos ($1.552 billion), according to the city's Department of Tourism and Entertainment.
The department says international arrivals to Colombia's second-largest tourism hub, behind only Bogotá, are growing at nearly 10% annually.
U.S. travelers make up 33% of foreign visitors to Medellín
Mexico, Ecuador, Spain, Peru and Panama follow the United States among the main source countries. Foreign tourists stay four to six nights and spend an average of about 210,000 pesos (around $66) per night, mainly on gastronomy, culture, shopping and wellness.
The true visitor count is believed to be higher than arrivals at José María Córdova International Airport. Many tourists enter Colombia through Bogotá or Cartagena de Indias and then travel inland to Medellín.