Does anyone know what the biggest foreign travel agencies are that serve COL?

caulfield2 says on Feb 12, 2006, 12:38:

The agencies I could think of are...off the top of my head

sabretravelnetwork
American Express
AAA
statravel.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Feb 12, 2006, 20:36:

Your not seeing double, this reply was put on another posting as well:

I honestly don't give Armenia's tourism much time. I've been living there (not there at the moment) off and on for about three years or so. Aside from what Poco said, all true, there are other reasons as well. There are way better theme parks in the states, usually it is families that go to those places. How much would a foreign family have to pay to go to colombia to go to so-so theme parks? This apart from convincing them that the rebels aren't much of a threat there, that they won't get robbed, the usual stuff (and let just one incident happen in the news and - game over). The national families right now like El Quindío, but how many years in a row are people going to go to the same theme parks? El eje cafetero will never beat out the coast, hell there's a beach, enough said. One of the best attractions about El Quindío is the mountains. Problem is, there are still a lot of problems with the mountains! A lot of the little villages (buenavista, the others on the cordillera) are really cute, but not advisable to go to. People that are into extreme sports aren't going to come if they can't practice their extreme sports. I think that if the security would be fixed in the area, then people would come in droves, but I don't see that happening soon. Yes, Armenia is relatively quiet and safe, remember, I'm talking about the hikes in the mountains and stuff.
On a positive note, I beleive that their will be direct flights to/from Madrid in about six months to a year or so. I forget the exact date.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caulfield2 says on Feb 13, 2006, 04:57:

Bufalo,

What extreme sports did you have in mind? Obviously, floating down Rio Vieja, even after a ton of lluvia, is not going to be like the Colorado River, but it is beautiful to see.

Hang-gliding or parapente? They have that in Calarca for $65 mil.

Bungee-jumping? What were some of the specific ideas you had in mind that you think are missing?

I, for one, think we need to have more of a destination Discoteca, like Mango Biche in Pereira, only tuned down to where it is not quite so...well, smutty. Instead of siliconas de Playboy, naturales de Maxim, lol.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Feb 13, 2006, 20:38:

Just mountain sports in general. Even just hiking up there. Supposedly going to Peñas Blancas is a no-no. I've been dying to go and might just "disappear" one day and go myself so no one gets on my back. People go bikeriding, but usually in groups, mostly for the local delinquents. It would be nice to be able to go on some of the back roads without having to worry. I bought a bike seat for my daughter and we go to the finca on the weekends, people now look at me even more.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Feb 13, 2006, 22:53:

Periódico 'The New York Times" Periódico 'The New York Times' destacó al Eje Cafetero como destino turístico



February 24

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Feb 14, 2006, 11:11:

One thing I'm concerned about is "dorking" up colombia with a lot of tourists. You really want packs of Japanese people with their cameras everywhere? Or moronic gringos taking a shot of aguardiente, acting drunk, screaming like idiots all the while not having any clue that no, Colombia not Puerto Rico, nor is it Mexico. When living in Spain, I noticed the gringos were the most annoying (the Irish were second). Double sucks for me being a gringo from an irish backround

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

litost says on Feb 14, 2006, 12:01:

I also dread the thought of Colombia becoming a massive package tourist destination... but I worry not, even in the best of cases we would still be many many years far from that coming about. As a colombian, I enjoy the way it is now but also think it would be interesting economically and culturally for a higher number of foreigners to visit the country. The opportunities I've had to share Colombia with foreigners have been fun, enriching, exciting... it'll be sad the day colombians will be saying NOT ANOOOTHER TOURIST!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gabo4ever says on Feb 15, 2006, 03:48:

Although I agree with the above two posts (to a certain extent) we must also look beyond our own personal need. We are all very aware of the economic plight of nearly all the people we come across when we visit Colombia (or on a daily basis if we live there), and im sure we also wish/think that if we had the chance we would help them in any way we can? Well one of our chances is the above. Tourism. I have visited different cities which thrive on tourism, and I can tell you that although they’re a few who do say "not another tourist" many are just glad we are there, bringing with us money to support their economy.

We all read through these threads that mention Colombia’s' problems and yet we have a possible solution in front of us, and we only see the negative?

I for one consider that we should in anyway possible support tourism, I do it all the time when talking to work colleagues and friends here in London, and like you said litost its great when a foreigner discovers Colombia "the lost paradise"!

Y por si se atreven: Watsamatamaracuya?

0 funny, 0 helpful.