Travel agencies in Colombia recorded a fall in revenues during the first quarter of 2026 as economic pressures and weaker profitability weighed on the sector, Travel2Latam reported on May 22. The downturn comes after several years of recovery and growth for the country’s travel distribution industry.
According to data from Colombia’s Monthly Travel Agencies Survey (EMAV), published by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), nominal revenues at travel agencies declined 1.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Employment in the sector also contracted by 3.7%, while salary payments fell 3.4%.
The figures highlight a more challenging environment for Colombian travel intermediaries after stronger results reported in 2025. Surveys conducted by the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ANATO) showed agencies had achieved average sales growth of 10% during the third quarter of 2025, with 81% reporting positive year-on-year sales performance.
ANATO Executive President Paula Cortés Calle said the wider industry has faced headwinds in 2026 despite pockets of growth among some member agencies. Recent ANATO research found that nearly 60% of agencies reported lower profitability this year, citing exchange-rate volatility as a key factor affecting margins. Travel advisories and security perceptions have also added pressure on the sector, according to the association.
For destination management companies and inbound operators, the slowdown comes as Colombia continues to compete for international visitors while managing rising operating costs. The decline in agency revenues contrasts with stronger inbound demand indicators seen previously, including growth in international air ticket sales to Colombia during 2025.
The first-quarter results mark the weakest performance for Colombian travel agencies since the post-pandemic recovery period and suggest a more cautious outlook for travel sellers and destination management companies operating in the market.