Colombia and the Antilles Closer Together Through Tourism

The Antilles, true paradises in the Caribbean, are showing growing tourism potential. Currently, trade between Colombia and the Caribbean amounts to approximately $600 million USD, according to the Banco de la República.

“Although the main suppliers to the Antilles are Spain, China, and the U.S., Colombian exports represent less than 5% of total imports. However, there has been an increase in the exchange of tourism-related supplies, which represents a great opportunity for Colombia, given its geographic proximity and the quality of its products,” says Gabriel Erick Prieto Ruíz, president of the Colombian-Antillean Chamber of Industry and Tourism (CCMCAIT).

The CCMCAIT has strengthened ties between Colombian and Caribbean companies, including Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Grenada, and Saint Lucia. In this effort to build binational connections, Tierra Querida has joined as a strategic ally, promoting valuable content that supports tourism and regional investment.

Before the pandemic, 25 million tourists visited the Antilles, and today the Dominican Republic alone receives 12 million. It is estimated that the Caribbean will welcome close to 40 million tourists in the near future, opening up opportunities for Colombia in sectors such as construction, services, fashion, and hospitality.

The CCMCAIT has defined seven strategic pillars to boost commercial exchange. The first is the tourism industry, followed by education and gastronomy. Other pillars include the export of agricultural inputs, the provision of professional services, consulting, and technology, where Colombia stands out in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

To strengthen connections between entrepreneurs, CCMCAIT will organize both in-person and virtual events and aims to collaborate with organizations such as ProColombia and ANATO. “We are identifying high-potential Colombian products for the Caribbean, such as agribusiness and technology, and we are also promoting medical tourism,” Prieto adds.

The goal is to promote high-quality services at competitive costs, facilitating agreements with clinics and tourism operators to attract international patients. Now is the time for Colombian entrepreneurs to expand into these high-potential destinations—with strategic partners like Tierra Querida boosting the country’s visibility across the Caribbean.