05/09/2026
I am writing this from a hotel in Bogota, Colombia. Colombia was at one point a very dangerous and violent country. Tourists did not come here, and there was no tourism industry.
It is a safe country now, and it is such a pleasure to be here.
Many of us have been to countries with a mature tourism industry. We enjoy these popular destinations immensely, but we have to deal with crowds, exhausted local employees and that feeling of being processed rather than hosted.
When you arrive to a country that is in the early part of their tourism cycle, its amazing. Crowds are low. Service is fantastic and there is a genuine feeling of welcome. We have been thanked many times for choosing Colombia and the gratitude is sincere.
This morning at breakfast I watched two employees working on the fruit display in the breakfast room. Such perfectionists! Placing each apple just so, standing back and then making adjustments.
This is a pretty swanky hotel, but I didn't get the feeling that they were doing this for the boss. I believe they were doing this for us. To make the fruit display nice for us. So we would feel welcome.
Travellers out there - consider going to an emerging destination. You won't regret it.
