Colombia Intensifies Crackdown on Sex Tourism Amid Tourism Boom

Colombia’s vibrant culture, lush landscapes, and historic cities have made it a global tourism powerhouse, with Medellín alone welcoming 1.2 million visitors in 2023, according to the city’s tourism board. Yet, this post-pandemic travel surge has fueled a darker trend: sex tourism. In response, the Colombian government, supported by international partners, is intensifying efforts to combat exploitative practices, particularly in hotspots like Medellín and Cartagena, while balancing the regulation of legal adult sex work with aggressive measures against child exploitation and human trafficking.

A Growing Challenge in Tourism Hubs

The tourism boom has brought unprecedented challenges, with digital platforms like Tinder, Facebook, and Airbnb facilitating sex tourism networks. The Colombian Ministry of Justice estimates over 35,000 minors are victims of sexual exploitation nationwide, many from displaced or impoverished communities, including Venezuelan migrants. In Medellín’s upscale El Poblado and Provenza neighborhoods and Cartagena’s historic districts, lax oversight and high demand have enabled organized trafficking rings, prompting a robust government response.

Targeted Crackdowns in Medellín

In April 2024, a high-profile case involving a U.S. tourist found with two girls aged 12 and 13 in a Medellín hotel room sparked outrage, as reported by local outlet El Colombiano. Mayor Federico Gutiérrez swiftly imposed a six-month ban on all prostitution in El Poblado and Provenza, targeting trafficking networks. Nightlife venues in Lleras Park were ordered to close by 1 a.m. for a month to disrupt illicit activities. By mid-2024, Medellín authorities reported over 90 arrests for crimes involving minor exploitation, targeting both local facilitators and foreign tourists, according to police statements cited in Semana magazine.

Strengthened Immigration Controls

Colombia has also tightened border security to deter sex tourism. Through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s AngelWatch program, Migración Colombia has blocked entry to known sex offenders at airports like Rionegro, which serves Medellín. In 2024, at least 19 convicted offenders, mostly U.S. citizens, were denied entry, with two Americans expelled in May alone, per Migración Colombia’s official reports. This builds on 2023 efforts that barred 19 others, signaling a firm stance against predatory travelers.

National Anti-Trafficking Framework

Colombia’s 2020–2024 National Action Plan (NAP) against human trafficking, outlined by the Ministry of Interior, has driven significant progress, earning a “Tier 1” ranking in the U.S. State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for robust anti-trafficking measures. The NAP allocated $1.57 million in 2022 to fund local initiatives across all 32 departments, including awareness campaigns like Cartagena’s “The Next Victim Could Be You,” which targets child sex tourism, and a crime-reporting app for communities. However, the same report notes gaps in prosecuting complicit officials, with only 54 convictions from over 2,000 child trafficking cases in the past decade.

Tourism Sector Reforms

In March 2024, Medellín proposed strict regulations on short-term rentals, where 75% of the city’s 5,900 vacation units are linked to sex exploitation, according to a municipal study cited by El Tiempo. By October 2025, broader tourism reforms emphasized “responsible tourism” to shift focus from sex-driven travel, as announced by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism. In Cartagena, the “Muralla” initiative, launched in 2020, partners with hotels and tour operators to protect minors, though local reports in El Universal note that police dispersals often displace rather than dismantle operations.

Legal Context and Ongoing Challenges

Adult prostitution remains legal in Colombia’s designated “tolerance zones,” with requirements for health checks, but laws like Law 1336 of 2009, which criminalizes sexual exploitation of minors and sex tourism, and Law 985, with 13–23 year minimum sentences for trafficking, form the legal backbone of the crackdown. Despite these measures, enforcement remains uneven. The U.S. State Department’s 2024 report highlights improved victim support but notes judicial bottlenecks, with convictions lagging behind arrests. Critics, including local NGOs quoted in Semana, argue that temporary bans risk conflating consensual sex work with exploitation, potentially harming vulnerable workers without addressing poverty-driven vulnerabilities, particularly among Venezuelan migrants.

A Call for Responsible Tourism

Colombia’s crackdown reflects a commitment to ethical tourism and child protection, praised by international partners like the U.S. State Department. Yet, with tourism numbers climbing and digital platforms enabling exploitation, sustained investment in enforcement, education, and economic support for at-risk communities is critical. Travelers are urged to support businesses aligned with Colombia’s anti-exploitation initiatives and report suspicious activities via official channels like the Ministry of Justice’s reporting app.

As Colombia balances its tourism boom with the fight against exploitation, the road ahead demands vigilance and collaboration. For ongoing updates, consult the Colombian Ministry of Justice’s website or the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report.