Córdoba will be the national guest destination for the ANATO 2026 tourism showcase.

This Thursday, it was announced that Córdoba will be the national guest of honor for the 45th edition of the Anato 2026 Tourism Showcase.

For more than four decades, this fair has established itself as one of the most important events in the region and the world for the sector, enabling the strengthening of commercial ties between travel agencies, operators, airlines, accommodations, and government entities.

Paula Cortés Calle, executive president of Anato, explained that this decision reflects the industry's interest in showcasing the region's cultural, culinary, and natural offerings .

"It also demonstrates the department's interest in continuing to invest in tourism to showcase its extraordinary potential for discovery and position its region. We are proud to offer this space, which will serve as a showcase not only for what it already is, but also for projecting all it can become as a national and international tourist destination. It will be an opportunity for Córdoba to attract investment, strengthen its tourism offering, and create jobs," added Cortés Calle.

For his part, the governor of the department, Erasmo Elías Zuleta Bechara, expressed his pride in this announcement. “In 2026, Córdoba will shine. We are going to show the country and the world why we are a land of progress, biodiversity, tradition, and joy , and build this participation alongside our artisans, tourism entrepreneurs, cultural managers, entrepreneurs, communities, and local authorities. This will be a showcase for everyone. We invite you to discover everything this wonderful land has to offer.”

Cortés Calle also announced that the guest destination for the 2027 showcase will be Meta , a recognition not only of the department but also of the local communities that have strengthened their presence in the tourism sector.

In February of this year, from the 26th to the 28th, the 44th edition of the Anato Tourism Showcase was held at the Bogotá International Business and Exhibition Center (Corferias) under the slogan "Colombia Open to the World." Over the course of three days, industry professionals learned about the offerings of more than 32 participating countries, including India, Italy, Turkey, Thailand, and China, as well as the 32 departments of Colombia.

The fair featured two guest destinations. Brazil was the international destination, with the goal of further strengthening trade and tourism ties between the two countries. Santa Marta was the national destination, celebrating this Caribbean city's 500-year history.

“Brazil has been growing exponentially in its foreign visitor numbers, so we wanted to highlight this country's growth. In 2024, 114,000 Colombians traveled to Brazil, and there was an 18 percent increase in international passenger flights from Brazil compared to the previous year,” Paula Cortés Calle told EL TIEMPO at the time.

ANGIE RODRÍGUEZ - TRAVEL EDITORIAL - @ANGS0614