US Joins Mexico and Other Countries as Pereira Airport Reopening Ignites Colombia Tourism Recovery

Written By: Debomita Dutta

Debomita Dutta

As a debater, researcher and writer I have always been passionate about making complex global developments accessible, accurate and impactful. It has always been my aim to combine a strong analytic approach with incredible storytelling - and here at Travel and Tour World I get to do just that! Bridging research, public discourse and meaningful communication through informed and engaging narratives.

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August 30, 2026 2:28 PM

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Matecaña International Airport’s reopening is restoring the air link that Pereira and Colombia’s Coffee Region need to restart tourism after the 10 August earthquake. The airport now handles around 18 flights daily. Avianca, LATAM, Copa Airlines and Clic have resumed services, while JetSMART is scheduled to return from 31 August. The recovery reconnects the region with its strongest potential tourism markets, led by the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. It also brings customers back within reach of hotels, restaurants, coffee farms, guides, nature reserves and rural communities.

Pereira Airport Reopening Restores a Critical Colombia Tourism Gateway

Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority cleared Matecaña International Airport on 22 August after technical inspections and coordinated safety work. The airport reopened with restricted capacity while teams continued repairing the terminal.

The two-month target remains an estimate. Airlines may restore individual routes at different speeds. Travellers should therefore understand one key difference: Matecaña is open, but its complete pre-earthquake network has not necessarily returned.

The phased reopening gives Pereira a working gateway while protecting passengers and allowing repairs to continue.

Matecaña’s Strong Passenger Growth Raises the Stakes

Matecaña entered the disruption period with rising demand. Between January and June 2026, the airport received 519,810 passengers on scheduled domestic flights, up 9.3% from the same period in 2025.

International arrivals grew even faster. The airport welcomed 54,600 scheduled international passengers, representing a 29.5% increase. Combined, domestic and international services delivered approximately 574,410 arriving passengers during the first half of 2026.

June reinforced that momentum:

• 85,601 domestic arrivals, up 4.1%
• 10,348 international arrivals, up 8.9%
• Approximately 95,949 combined scheduled arrivals

These figures reveal the real scale of the reopening. Pereira is not rebuilding demand from zero. It is restoring capacity for a market that was already expanding.

The international increase carries particular weight. Domestic travellers still dominate traffic, but faster overseas growth shows that the Coffee Region was gaining global visibility before the earthquake. Reliable schedules could help the destination regain that momentum quickly.

US, Mexico and Brazil Lead Pereira’s Tourism Opportunity

Colombia welcomed 2,647,543 foreign non-resident visitors between January and July 2026. The five largest source markets produced 1,344,339 arrivals, accounting for approximately 50.8% of the total.

These are national arrival figures, not confirmed Pereira visitor numbers. However, they reveal where the strongest demand exists and which markets could support the Coffee Region’s recovery.

The ranking reveals three different opportunities. The United States offers scale. Mexico provides steady growth. Brazil delivers the strongest momentum, with arrivals rising by more than one-fifth.

Ecuador and Peru recorded weaker annual results but remain essential regional markets. Their proximity supports short holidays, family visits, business travel and multi-destination trips.

US Remains Pereira’s Biggest International Prize

The US supplied 652,677 visitors, nearly one-quarter of Colombia’s foreign arrivals during the first seven months of 2026. No other market comes close to its volume.

Matecaña’s published route network includes Miami among its international destinations. However, American Airlines was not included among the four carriers confirmed as active during the first reopening phase. Travellers should not assume the direct service has resumed until the airline or airport confirms it.

US visitors may initially reach Pereira through:

• Bogotá, followed by a domestic flight
• Panama City using Copa Airlines
• Another Colombian gateway with an onward connection

This does not remove the US opportunity. It changes how Pereira must capture it. Airlines, hotels and tourism operators can make one-stop travel easier by presenting clear connection options and building Coffee Region stays into wider Colombia itineraries.

For many travellers, a simple connection matters more than a nonstop route. If passengers can reach Pereira on the same day, the destination remains competitive.

Mexico and Brazil Add Fresh Momentum to Coffee Region Tourism

Mexico generated 240,295 visitors during January–July 2026, up 6.7% year on year. Brazil supplied 139,095, following a much stronger 20.8% surge.

Brazil’s performance moved it ahead of Chile in the latest seven-month ranking. That shift matters because destination marketing should follow current behaviour rather than outdated assumptions about Colombia’s leading South American markets.

Both countries offer strong potential for:

• Coffee-farm visits and tasting experiences
• Nature and birdwatching tours
• Regional food journeys
• Rural accommodation
• Cultural and community tourism
• Combined Bogotá, Medellín and Pereira holidays

Pereira does not need direct flights from every market to benefit. Efficient links through Bogotá and Panama can convert national visitor demand into regional stays.

Coffee Farms and Nature Attractions Regain Air Access

The airport’s recovery restores easier access to experiences identified by the Colombian Government, including Bioparque Ukumarí, Parque Consotá, the rural routes of La Florida and La Bella, and Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary.

The reopening also supports:

• Coffee estates and countryside lodges
• Wildlife and biodiversity experiences
• Local restaurants and cafés
• Cultural and gastronomic corridors
• Tour guides and ground-transport providers
• Community-owned tourism businesses

The most important result will not be passenger traffic alone. Success will depend on whether arriving visitors stay longer, travel beyond Pereira and spend across the wider Coffee Region.

This is where reopened flights can create the greatest impact. One visitor may support an airline, taxi driver, hotel, restaurant, guide and coffee farm during the same journey.

Pereira Airport Restrictions Every Traveller Must Check

Matecaña is operating, but temporary measures continue while repairs progress.

JetSMART has advised that some flights from, to or through Pereira may temporarily operate from Armenia Airport until 8 September. Its return from 31 August should therefore be treated as phased, not as immediate full normalisation.

Travellers should check the departure airport shown on their booking instead of assuming every JetSMART service will use Matecaña. Matecaña International Airport and JetSMART Colombia

Pereira Airport Reopening Drives Colombia Tourism Recovery Forward

Colombia received 3,318,266 non-resident visitors during January–July 2026, including foreign visitors, Colombians living overseas and international cruise passengers. Travel and passenger air-transport exports generated US$3.146 billion during the first quarter, rising 9.4% year on year.

Pereira can now reconnect with that growing visitor economy. The US brings the largest demand pool. Mexico and Brazil offer expanding opportunities. Ecuador and Peru strengthen regional access.

The next stage depends on route reliability, clear passenger communication and the timely completion of repairs. If those pieces fall into place, Matecaña’s reopening will do more than restore flights. It will rebuild traveller confidence, protect local livelihoods and return Colombia’s Coffee Region to international travel itineraries.

In conclusion, the US joins Mexico and other countries as Pereira Airport reopening ignites Colombia tourism recovery by restoring vital access to the Coffee Region. Returning flights reconnect major visitor markets with Pereira’s hotels, restaurants, coffee farms and natural attractions. Although terminal restrictions and phased airline operations remain, renewed connectivity can rebuild traveller confidence, protect local jobs and increase visitor spending. Full recovery now depends on completing repairs, restoring reliable routes and making regional connections simple for domestic and international travellers.