Colombia Tourism.

[Jamie]

This article http://us.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/08/01/colombia.tourism.reut/index.html
says Colombia had 1.7 million visitors in 2003. I wonder if 80% of that number is Colombians visiting from the States.

"...the tourism ministry's promotion budget as "small and utterly insufficient." Hotels and restaurants are supposed to make compulsory contributions to a fund for advertising, but the minister admitted that this had not been properly enforced."

I think this quote has the making of some slogans,

Colombia the land of many laws and enforcement of none

or

Colombia where saying good bye is a compulsory contribution

Engage the Exotic - International Introductions
http://Latin-Wife.com

[Pete E]

... in response to Colombia Tourism., posted by Jamie on Aug 1, 2005

1000 or 2000 of that 1.7 million were guys looking for women.So WE didn't make a dent in it.

Pete

[Malandro]

... in response to MAYBE - - -, posted by Pete E on Aug 2, 2005

Pete,

I am positive they are counting visitors from other Latin countries as well.  and there is no way that 80% are from the states unless you count each of papi's visits.

I imagine that the number just from the States is on the order of at most acouple hundred thousand including repeat visits and of those several thousand use agencies and address and email services.

I bet if you just look at Americans that are using introduction type services of whatever variety it is a "dent" in the total number of Americans that travel there.

[Pete E]

... in response to waayyyyyyy  off, posted by Malandro on Aug 2, 2005

I think the number from the states would be real small except for Colombians returning.
The cab drivers figure us out fast in Cali.What is this guy doing here?Its mujures or business,no general tourists I bet.

Pete

[CelticUrge]

... in response to MAYBE - - -, posted by Pete E on Aug 2, 2005

Pete: Where did you get that 1000-2000 number? Seems a little higher than I would have guessed, by a factor of two. You're right though, gringos looking for mujeres is a small percentage of travel.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: MAYBE - - -, posted by CelticUrge on Aug 2, 2005

Just a wild guess.I was thinking in Cali there might be 50 guys a month come though.Maybe 25 there at any one time.That seems high,I don't see that many guys but some guys come independent of agencies or meet girls they e mailed.So that would be 600 a year for Cali.Maybe 400 for every place else.Then maybe twice that top end?
Its a small number whatever it is.
1.7 million tourists probably includes returning Colombians and business people as well as tourists.Lots of Europeans go to Cartagena,they don't sweem as spooked as Norte Americanos.
IF Colombia ever gets its security reputation cleaned up places like Cartsagena could go wild.To me its the most unique city in the western hemisphere.

Pete

[latinadreaming]

... in response to Re: Re: MAYBE - - -, posted by Pete E on Aug 2, 2005

Just wanted to echo this thought, not only for cart. but tourism would skyrocket if the security concerns were addressed. I have done some traveling thru Colombian and it is a beautiful country with warm people and an interesting culture.

[CelticUrge]

... in response to Re: Re: MAYBE - - -, posted by Pete E on Aug 2, 2005

[This message has been edited by CelticUrge]

Regarding your estimate of 1000-2000 men travelling to Colombia annually looking for women.

Thanks for the insight. Had no idea that many men were going to Cali. The number still seems a bit high to me. Nevertheless, it is ultimately not many guys. Divide that by the number of "main" agencies in Colombia (10-12 ) and its easy to see that they are indeed not getting rich, although a few may be doing well. Don't quit your day job. I assume the top 10-12 agencies are doing 80% of the business. I tend to avoid the large tours, just as a personal preference. However, every trip to Bogota had about 4-6 men hanging around the two large agencies, LAI and LLM. Very difficult to quantify the men travelling and not using an agency. Guesswork in my opinion. I've encountered only very low numbers of the "loners" in Bogota.

Bogota
Agencia Mundial De Matrimonios
Cesar Camargo
International Connections
International Introductions
Ladies & Gentlemen International Club
Ladies From Colombia
Latin American Introductions
Latin Destinations
Latin Life Mates
Odee
Vogulys

Barranquilla
Barranquilla's Best
I Love Latins
Latin Dream Tours
Latin Matchmakers

Cali
All Colombian Girls
Cali Lady
Cali VIP
Cali's Best
Colombian Services
Dave Davis Agency
International Connections
Latin Best
Latin Connections Girls
Latin Encounters
Latin Experience Tour
Latin Internet
LatinLove.net
Latin Women Connection

Cartegena
Amor De Cartagena

Medellin
Agenica Matrimonial
Agencia VIP Online
Centro de Estetica Karitza Joans
Colombian Love Connection
Colombian Sweethearts
www.contactosteune.com
Encuentros de Novios y Matrimonios

Others
Amigos.com
Colombia Singles
South of the Border
TLC Worldwide

I don't know how accurate this list may be at the present time. I just slapped it together from my own knowledge and looking at lists of agencies on two forums. Not meant to be an absolute guide to every agency in Colombia. I apologize to any owners/agencies not included on this list.

Perhaps some of you guys can comment on specific cities or get the moderators to chime in. In any event, it is clear to me that any guy travelling to Colombia with the intent of using an agency should do his homework first. Like Pauly Shore says "focus".

[pablo]

... in response to Agency Competition For A Few Good Men, posted by CelticUrge on Aug 2, 2005


Celtic,

Thanks for taking the time to compile this list of Colombian agencies.  Do you have URL addresses for each one?  

A few I've never heard of and thought it would be a nice service to provide easy internet access for people wanting to check them out.

It would be great if people chimed in with any agencies that may have been inadvertently omitted.

Pablo

[CelticUrge]

... in response to Re: Agency Competition For A Few Good Me..., posted by pablo on Aug 3, 2005

I sent you an email with url's.

[pablo]

... in response to Re: Re: Agency Competition For A Few Goo..., posted by CelticUrge on Aug 3, 2005


Thanks Celtic.  I received it and sent you an email back.

[Pete E]

... in response to Agency Competition For A Few Good Men, posted by CelticUrge on Aug 2, 2005

Thats quite a list of agencies.
My opinion,only about 5 major players in Cali,3 MAYBE in Bogota,one in Medellin,none in Cartagena and Barranquilla I don't know but I think one.The rest are pretty minor or address sellers.
BUT,things change.A couple of former major players are sliding in Cali and there are some new guys making noise.

Pete

[CelticUrge]

... in response to Re: Agency Competition For A Few Good Me..., posted by Pete E on Aug 2, 2005

[This message has been edited by CelticUrge]

Sorry, duplicate post.

[CelticUrge]

... in response to Re: Agency Competition For A Few Good Me..., posted by Pete E on Aug 2, 2005

Yeh, my take, like I mentioned, is that 10-12 are doing almost all the business. Is that number high? TLC claims 5000 plus marriages (or at least if my memory serves me correctly from other posts), but over what time frame? Even if 10-15 years the number is very, very high. That would be like 30 marriages per month at 15 years. Too high. I would assume that a reasonable number for the two big guys in Bogota to be an average of no more than 5 marriages per month and I assume that to be optimistic. More likely 3-4.

In Cali, who is declining and who are the up and coming agencies?

One guy on WLC thinks 1000-2000 number of men visiting Colombia each year is low. He thinks there are more. You guys seem to be of a consensus that number of visiting men much higher than I thought. See, I now assume there are approx. 15-30 men visiting an agency per month. For 10-12 agencies doing most of the business, that averages out to 1800-4320 per year. I guess it must be in this ball park. What do you think?

Two separate issues. How many men visit. How many marriages each year.

[fathertime]

... in response to Re: Agency Competition For A Few Good Me..., posted by Pete E on Aug 2, 2005

Pete, who is sliding and making noise in Cali.  I am still uncommitted for a few more days here.  I would not want to go with someone who may be sliding.
Thanks
Fathertime