Colombia Races to Sign Strict Tourism-Registry Overhaul Before August 7 Handover
Colombia · Tourism Regulation
Key Facts
—Mandatory Prior License The draft decree reaffirms the National Tourism Registry (RNT) as a mandatory, prior requirement for any person or company to legally offer tourism services in Colombia.
—Race Against the Clock President Petro’s administration is working to sign the RNT reform into law before August 7, when Abelardo De La Espriella’s incoming government takes office.
—New Real-Time Verification A new digital control system, the SVCRNT, will cross-check operator data in real time with tax, migration and health authorities, managed by local chambers of commerce.
—Platform Accountability Digital platforms like booking apps must now register themselves and validate that every listed property has an active, unique RNT number every six months.
—Investment Certainty Hotel association chief José Andrés Duarte says formalization guarantees legal certainty for small, medium and large tourism investments across the country.
Colombia’s outgoing government is racing to sign a sweeping tourism-registry decree that imposes stiff new registration and verification rules on hotels, rentals and digital platforms before the August 7 presidential handover.
The Race to Formalize Before August 7
Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT) published a draft decree to overhaul the mandatory National Tourism Registry (RNT) and has opened it for public comment. The government of President Gustavo Petro is now running against the clock, with Minister Diana Marcela Morales telling local media that the administration expects to sign the decree into law before the August 7, 2026 change of command.
The handover will see the incoming president, Abelardo De La Espriella, inherit any last-minute regulatory decisions.
To speed up administrative procedures, the presidency’s administrative department declared several weekend days in July and early August as business days via a formal resolution. While that resolution specifically covers state contracting, it illustrates the wider push by the outgoing administration to finalize key regulatory acts.
Sector leaders have called the RNT regulation the best legacy this government can leave for Colombian tourism.
What the Draft Decree Actually Changes
The proposed text reinforces that the RNT is a mandatory, prior license for any person or company wishing to operate legally in tourism. It introduces a new real-time verification system, the SVCRNT, managed by local chambers of commerce.
This system will automatically cross-check operator data against databases from the DIAN tax authority, Migration Colombia, Fontur and the transport, health and environment ministries, flagging any provider that does not meet all legal requirements.
Crucially, the reform creates a legally defined category for digital booking platforms, which must now register themselves in the RNT. These platforms are obligated to collect each provider’s tax ID and active RNT number, verify that the same registration is not being used for multiple properties, and connect their systems to MinCIT’s database to validate data in real time before publishing any listing.
New Paperwork for Hosts and Property Owners
Individual operators face a considerably higher documentation burden. To register, providers must now attach a fire-department safety certificate and declare the property’s official land-registry number or geographic coordinates.
For tourist dwellings in apartment buildings or gated communities, operators can no longer simply claim board approval; they must attach the formal co-ownership regulations that explicitly authorize short-term tourist use.
Each physical establishment, branch or rental property must be registered individually, with no global or multi-site applications allowed. RNT certificates must be displayed visibly inside the establishment and on the operator’s own website.
If signed without changes, the measures would take full effect on January 1, 2028, giving existing operators a transition period until their next renewal date.
Why This Matters for Expats and Investors
For foreign residents and investors, the decree directly reshapes the short-term rental market that many rely on. Tourist dwellings in horizontal properties—common among expat hosts—will be ineligible for RNT registration without documented assembly authorization.
This could sharply reduce the number of legal vacation rentals available on major platforms, potentially affecting rental-income strategies for property investors.
On the other hand, formalization also brings legal certainty. José Andrés Duarte, president of the hotel association Cotelco, stated that a robust registry framework provides security for small, medium and large investments. Tourism already generates approximately $34 billion in foreign exchange for Colombia, surpassing coal and coffee, and travel-sector figure Paula Cortés affirmed that proper regulation is a positive legacy because it ensures ‘everyone is playing on the same field and everyone is formal.’
Controversy and Sector Pushback
Not everyone in the tourism industry supports the tightened rules. According to sector reports, small vacation rental operators and independent guides argue the increased paperwork could make compliance nearly impossible for micro-businesses.
Critics on social media have claimed the government is favoring large hotel chains over individual short-term rental hosts, though the draft decree does not mention any specific companies by name.
The project remains open for public comment until mid-July and is not yet signed. Chosen chambers of commerce will gain stronger regulatory powers to manage the new control system, and the government maintains the changes are essential to guarantee legality, quality and sustainability across Colombia’s fast-growing tourism sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Colombia’s National Tourism Registry (RNT)?
The RNT is a mandatory government registry that any person or company must obtain before legally offering tourism services in Colombia. The new decree reinforces it as a prior, non-negotiable operating license and creates a system to verify compliance in real time.
Will Airbnb and other booking platforms be affected?
Yes. The draft decree creates a specific category for digital platforms, requiring them to register themselves in the RNT and to verify that every property listed has a valid, unique RNT number.
They must re-verify this information at least every six months.
When would the new RNT rules take effect?
If the decree is signed before August 7 without modifications, the new measures would officially take effect on January 1, 2028. Providers who already have an RNT before that date can continue under current rules until their next mandatory renewal.
Sources: MinCIT – Proyecto de decreto RNT 2026 (official draft), Portafolio – Gobierno Petro contra el reloj para firmar decreto del RNT, Yahoo Noticias – Gobierno alista reforma al Registro Nacional de Turismo, Report News – Polémica por reforma al Registro Nacional de Turismo, Semana – Petro declara días hábiles fines de semana hasta el 7 de agosto
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