July 11, 2014

Colombia: Latin America’s Hottest Tourist Destination With its expansive historical and cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and great culinary offerings, Colombia is one of the hottest tourist destinations in Latin America and the world. According to the World Tourism Organization, the growth of foreign tourism to Colombia in 2012 was 3 percent higher than global tourism growth (4 percent), at 7 percent. In 2012, the United States, Spain, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina and Peru were the main countries of origin of tourists in Colombia. Spotted on Saturday, June 28, in Neiva, Colombia: Actor Will Smith and Singer Marc Anthony celebrating Colombia’s World Cup win over Uruguay on June 28. According to El Tiempo, Anthony brought Smith as a guest while touring different cities across Colombia. The famous actor and singer aren’t the only celebrities traveling to Colombia. The country has recently been visited by:

• Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain (to film an episode featuring the country as a top tourist destination for his CNN television series, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”);

• Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger; • Microsoft Founder Bill Gates; • Television anchor Anderson Cooper; • Director of “Love in the Time of Cholera” Scott Steindorff; • Socialite Paris Hilton (who recently opened one of her fashion stores in Bogotá); and many more.

In addition, other international superstars and bands, including Beyoncé, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Aerosmith, have held concerts in Medellín and Bogotá. For more information, visit: http://www.colombiaemb.org/node/1332

World Leaders Attend “Third Way” Summit in Cartagena On Tuesday, July 1, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos hosted a summit, “The Third Way: The Path to Economic and Social Prosperity,” in Cartagena with five former heads of state – British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, U.S. President Bill Clinton, Brazilian

I n C a s e Y o u M i s s e d I t

Photo: Will Smith and Marc Anthony in Neiva, Colombia; Photo Credit: Twitter

President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Chilean President Ricardo Lagos – who expressed support for the peace negotiations currently underway in Colombia. During the summit, President Santos highlighted Colombia’s progress over the years, stating: “Colombia, thanks to our progress in these years, is ready to take off toward new horizons … to be part of major international decision-making, and to be part, for example, of the OECD. … Today we have inflation below 3 percent and an economy that grew 4.7 last year and 6.4 percent in the first quarter … In the past four years the unemployment rate has fallen every month, month after month, and have created two and a half million jobs.”

Colombia’s ‘Los Cafeteros’ Welcomed Home After Success at World Cup

After much success in the 2014 FIFA World Cup – winning against Japan, Côte d'Ivoire, Greece and Uruguay – the Colombia national soccer team, “Los Cafeteros,” was welcomed home by thousands with a parade in Bogotá on Sunday after losing to Brazil in the quarterfinals last Friday. While talking to a reporter about the team, President Santos stated: “Well [I] just talked to them, told them all Colombia is very, very proud of our team. We were very happy, they got very far, we've never gone that far. They did a great show for the whole world, the whole world is admiring Colombia.”

Photo: Third Way Conference; Photo Credit: Juan Pablo Bello, Presidencia de la República de Colombia

Los Cafeteros during their homecoming parade in Bogotá Photo Credit: Federacion Colombiana de Futbol

This was the fifth time, and the first time since the 1998 World Cup in France, that Colombia has competed in the World Cup. For more information on Los Cafeteros and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, visit:

• “World Falls for Colombia’s World Cup Dance Moves,” Colombia Reports, July 7, 2014

• “Colombia World Cup Team Get Epic Greeting Upon Returning Home From World Cup,” Bleacher Report, July 6, 2014

• “In Praise of Colombia, the World Cup’s Most Fun Team,” SBNation.com, July 5, 2014

Colombian IndyCar Driver Juan Pablo Montoya Wins Race at Pocono On Sunday, July 6, Colombian IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya won the Pocono IndyCar 500 race, his first IndyCar win in 14 years. After racing in Formula One from 2001 to 2006 and NASCAR from 2007 to 2013, Montoya returned to IndyCar racing this season. He won the 1999 CART and 2000 Indianapolis 500 races.

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Get to know Colombia. Learn more at www.colombiaemb.org.

President Santos and Los Cafeteros coach José Néstor Pekerman Photo Credit: Andrés Piscov, Presidencia de la República de Colombia

Photo:  Montoya  with  Colombian  fans;  Photo  Credit:  Indycar.com