Layover? Play over! Bogota and Avianca launch fun stopover deal…

For most travelers, a layover is a necessary evil — an in-between space of stale airport coffee, endless announcements, and scrolling through your phone waiting for the next boarding call. But Bogota wants to change that.

In a new tourism strategic push, the Colombian capital has launched “StopOver Bogota: Love at First Runway”. The initiative is a joint venture with national carrier Avianca. It invites international transit passengers to break free from El Dorado International Airport and fall in love with the city — all within 24 hours.

Latin America biggest hub

The concept is simple but groundbreaking in South America. Travelers passing through Bogota can now opt to stretch their stopovers, explore the city for up to a full day, and rejoin their journey later — without paying more for their airfare. It’s an offer tailor-made for the 95% of international passengers who currently never set foot outside the terminal.

But this is more than just a tourism gimmick as the potential is real. Bogota-El Dorado International Airport is already the busiest air hub in Latin America. In 2024, it managed a staggering 45 million passengers, with 18,000 daily transit travelers on Avianca flights alone. Colombia’s flagship airline and the main partner in the program, brings scale and reach: over 240 daily departures, more than 60 destinations, and connections to 28 countries.

“For over a century, we’ve connected Bogota to the world,” said Frederico Pedreira, Avianca’s CEO. “This project opens the city to the world in a whole new way.”

In its early rollout, the StopOver option will be targeted at passengers from seven key cities — including Lima, Miami, Guayaquil, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo — all just a few hours from Bogota. In Europe, both Bogota and Avianca target passengers from Madrid. If all goes to plan, city officials say more than 72,000 travelers could take advantage of the program in just the last six months of 2025, bringing in an additional $6 million in local spending.

Feeding an already booming Bogota tourism sector

City officials are consequently betting big for this first-of-its-kind program in the region. Bogota officials speak of at least 472,000 extra international visitors by the end of 2026, pouring over US$40 million into the local economy and boosting airport tax revenue by another US$21 million. “We want to transform idle hours into meaningful memories,” said Andrés Santamaría, head of Bogota’s tourism institute (IDT) to local English-written newspaper “the city paper”. “A stopover doesn’t have to be lost time — it can be an unforgettable experience.”

City officials are confident that the plan fits right into Bogota’s broader tourism vision. The StopOver program comes indeed at a perfect time as Bogota is experiencing a tourism boom. In 2024, the city welcomed over 14 million visitors, including 1.87 million international tourists — an increase of nearly 9% over the previous year. The sector generated about $1.8 billion in revenue and supported over 106,000 monthly jobs. Hotel occupancy rates stayed strong, and each foreign tourist spent an average of $100 per day.

Lay-over with stories to tell

What makes StopOver Bogota especially appealing are the curated, ready-to-book itineraries developed by certified tour operators:

• Bogota in 24 Hours: Explore historic neighborhoods, pop into museums, shop in vibrant districts, and dine in traditional restaurants.

• Flavors of the Capital: A culinary journey through bustling markets and local eateries.

• Natural Bogota: Escape to the lush hills, urban parks, and green spaces that frame the city.

This fast-track introduction aims to leave a lasting impression — and entice a return visit. “Bogota has what it takes to shine in the short-stay travel market,” added Santamaría to the city paper. “We’re offering travelers a story, not just a layover.”

(Source: the city paper-Bogota)