After a successful Routes Americas in Nassau, Nassau Airport Development Company have officially handed over to Cartagena de Indias, the official host destination of Routes Americas 2013.

The only route development event for the entire Americas region will take place on February 10th-12th 2013 in Cartagena hosted by Cartagena-Rafael Nuñez International Airport and supported by their stakeholders Cartagena Tourist Board and PROEXPORT Colombia.

Cartagena, world heritage city and gateway to the Colombian Caribbean, has seen a recent rise in tourism as overall visitor numbers to Colombia grew by 14 per cent between January and June of 2011 compared to 2010.

Rafael Nuñez International Airport is located within the city limits, just ten minutes from the convention centre and 15 minutes from the hotel zone and receives more than 220 direct national flights every week allowing more than 700 international flights to connect to Cartagena from other cities in Colombia.

The airport is the 4th largest in Colombia handling over two million passengers for the first time in 2010 and this figure is set to grow even further in 2012.

The terminal redevelopment currently underway will expand capacity to more than 3.5 million passengers annually.

Hosting Routes Americas provides the ideal platform to showcase this unique and enchanting destination and show delegates the progress that has been made in their airport expansion.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony which took place today in Nassau at the 5th Routes Americas event, Campo Elias Terán, the mayor of Cartagena, referred to the increase in passenger traffic and the current airport development project: “All this good news has brought us to the Bahamas and to Routes Americas 2012, not just to look for new partners who wish to be a part of this growth with us, but also to invite them to enjoy one of the most fulfilling experiences that the Caribbean has to offer in Cartagena de Indias.

“We look forward to welcoming you in 2013 when we shall be the host of this important event.”