In December 11.8 million Colombians will travel by bus

The most coveted tourist season for Colombians is approaching, the end-of-year holidays. With almost zero mobility restrictions in the national territory, land transport companies have begun to turn on engines for those who decide to mobilize and spend the festivities of Christmas, New Year and Kings in another city.

(Read: What the letter that Viva employees sent to President Petro says).

This season will bring with it a substantial recovery in the sector that has not yet recorded the pre-pandemic passenger mobilization figures. According to the Chamber of Passenger Transport of the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia (Andi), for the December season, lThe transport companies are preparing to mobilize 11.8 million passengerswhich would represent a 95% operation compared to December 2019.

Precisely Expreso Brasilia, andexpects to mobilize 500,000 passengers between December 15 and January 15, which in his record, would mean a growth of 17% compared to 2021. Regarding sales, he expects to close with numbers similar to those registered in 2019.

“We have seen that the most desirable destinations are those in the Caribbean region; in a special way, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Palomino, Tolú, Coveñas, Barranquilla and Riohacha. And towards the interior of the country there is great demand towards Medellín, Bucaramanga, Bogotá, Cali and the coffee region”, stated the general manager of Expreso Brasilia, Alfredo De León Moreno.

Likewise, this and other companies sThey are ready to take their services to Venezuelan territory, pending the reopening of the border for land transport and the permits that must be granted by the transport entities of the neighboring country. Expreso Brasilia, for example, would connect Caracas from Cartagena and Barranquilla and vice versa.
“We are completing the corresponding procedures with the Government of Venezuela and Colombia to start this operation that is so awaited by both countries,” noted De León Moreno.

(In addition: Government will pay $4 billion to the Fuel Stabilization Fund).

From the terminals, the projection is to mobilize in this season is to mobilize from Bogota, 1.4 million passengers; 1.1 million passengers from Medellín and 900,000 passengers from Cali.

With this dynamic, the sector recommends that travelers purchase their tickets in advance.

So far this year, 96 million people have been mobilized on the roads using public transport, however, this figure is still 30% lower than in 2019, according to the Andi Chamber.

(See: This is how companies can prepare for the adjustment of the minimum wage).

“The rapid recovery of activities in 2022 demonstrates the great capacity of the sector to reactivate operations with large volumes of people and daily dispatches, committed to the safety and comfort of passengers”, said Hernando Tatis, director of the Andi Chamber of Passenger Transport.

Paula Galeano Balaguera