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despite rumors, i have not been kidnapped

Business has been going well and havent had to much time to post over the past 12 months but Ive had a few people come due to seeing my place on the new PBH travel guides so I wanted to say thanks. Also thanks to all those people who continue to give good educated advice to backpackers and tourists on this site.

Just did an update to the San Gil section in the travel guide if your interested.

I came back last week from a great trip to Cocuy followed by 4 days rafting through chicamocha. gotta love this country.

if anyone needs info on cocuy or santander send them my way and I'll let them know everything they need to know

was at a conference yesterday and listened to the vice minister of tourism speak. Colombia plans on spending alot more on tourism this year and they are also putting a large plan in place to reduce under age sex tourism, which is great to see.

money will be generated by the extra $5 departure tax, which wil be increased to $15 by 2012 and also new taxes on business working in the tourist trade including restaurants (only if you make more than 44,000,0000 pesos

By cartersback on Feb 16, 2007, 22:52 in Friendly Talkzone.

adrimm says on Feb 17, 2007, 00:00:

Timing Wow Carter, looks like you set up shop at a great time.. Glad to hear things are going well and I still hope to get a chance to stop in someday!

I was wondering about taxes - I expected that there might also be 'airport improvement fee' tacked on as well any news of that?

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goin_south says on Feb 17, 2007, 01:11:

Now there is some 'serious' information. gracias. Paz y prosperidad para Colombia.

“ I would rather be a conservative nut job rather than a liberal with no nuts and no job.”

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utopiacowboy says on Feb 17, 2007, 07:49:

So they are going to try to reduce under age sex tourism? Are they going to promote above age sex tourism?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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adrimm says on Feb 17, 2007, 09:59:

The cost of travel - taxes I personally have a harder time with prices anywhere get inflated for tourists (back in the film days, I once ended up paying the equivelant of $12 for one roll of film in central London - and only $4 the next day just a few kms over in Greenwich- UK) .. so by the same logic we can say tourist trap businesses are run by greedy bastards.

But otoh that's life - it's a chance all travellers take.

As for $ charged by the gov't, for all we know (hopefully) some of it will be funnelled into things like the airport improvement.. and I'd rather have people who actually use the airport bearing the brunt of *that* burden.

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RUV says on Feb 17, 2007, 15:07:

Carter,
Did you ever setup Carter,

Did you ever setup a website for your business? Do you have any pictures posted? I will check out San Gil travel guides.

Thanks,

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 18, 2007, 12:25:

I was wondering were you I was wondering were were you ? ;)

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cartersback says on Feb 18, 2007, 14:20:

www.hosteltrail.com/macondo/index.shtm not a proper website, just this one www.hosteltrail.com/macondo/index.shtm

my "mate" hasnt got around to it. think I need another mate

as for the $5 airport tax, as I can see none of it is for the airport. Its to spend on the tourism industry. Which includes areas like advertising and the prevention of underage sex tourism.

the fee will be 2006 $5, 2008 $10, 2011 $15.

They plan on generating US$14,000,000 to be spent on tourism through this and the new business tax. Apparently Panama spent $10 million and Ecuador $7 million in comparison to Colombias $1 million last year.

Other areas where the money will go is improving the possibilities of colombians to get visas and easier visas for foriegners looking at spending time here (they did not go into any details in regards if it was for tourist or other reasons)(something called "vive colombia" visa)

Tarjetas jovenes (Youth Travel cards)

They announced 1,060,000 tourists visted colombia last year according to DAS 13% more than 2005.

Don Gringo, If the government has a million dollar campaign that will directly benefit large companies in tourist industries why shouldnt they give something back? nothings for free.

where not talking about the Playtpus here were taking about the Hilton and major restaurants.

The $28 million dollar cable car just outside of San Gil will bring people from all over the country to the town. The Resorts may double there incomes, why shouldnt they give something back to these projects?

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