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Hotel and tourism infrastructure

Description scope of the subsector

What is Hotel and Tourism Infrastructure?

This subsector includes the construction and operation of hotels, as well as agencies to promote tourism and the sale of tourism and recreation services. The hotel and tourism infrastructure sector is essential for the country, as Colombia is considered a unique destination thanks to its megadiversity, variety of climates, cultural richness, the warmth of its people, and its tourist attractions, which allow foreign visitors to enjoy unparalleled experiences in all regions of the country. Among the foreign investment alternatives currently available in the country are:

Ecotourism: This activity allows investment in hotel infrastructure in rural areas, taking advantage of Colombia's natural biodiversity.

Glamping: It is possible to invest in outdoor camping experiences without sacrificing the comfort and amenities of traditional hotel accommodations.

Eco Luxury: This option includes the opportunity to build ecolodge-style hotels.

Urban hotels: These types of investments provide opportunities for activities ranging from economy to luxury, and services can also be focused on the youth, corporate, vacation, or senior living markets.

Entertainment: This is an opportunity to build theme parks, entertainment centers, and event venues.

Sun and beach: This alternative includes the development of all-inclusive resorts and luxury hotels.

Tourism infrastructure: This includes opportunities for the construction of tourist piers, nautical bases and marinas, and infrastructure for bird watching, among others.

Why invest in hotel and tourism infrastructure?

Government policies have established new economic growth laws, offering preferential income tax rates for hotels, theme parks, agrotourism, ecotourism, and new docks, which is a great advantage for foreign investment, as follows:

In municipalities with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants, the income tax rate will be 9% for 20 years, and this incentive will remain in effect until 2029. On the other hand, for cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants, this 9% tax incentive will apply for 10 years and will remain in effect until 2023.

Another distinguishing factor of the country is that it has 13 international airports and is located less than 6 hours from the main cities of the American continent, thus benefiting foreign capital investment with high rates of return on investment.

*Please note: for specific information on each subsector, see the procedures for Pre-operational Licenses and Infrastructure Construction.

The other procedures in the investment cycle—Company Creation, Real Estate Purchase, Migration, and Hiring Personnel—are cross-cutting and standard for all investment subsectors.

Formalities and administrative procedures to be carried out:

Here you can consult each of the steps and requirements for Infrastructure construction

1 - Apply for an Environmental License

The Environmental License refers to the authorization for the execution of a project, work, or activity that could cause serious damage to renewable natural resources or the environment, or generate changes to the landscape.
Requirements
Requirements

What do I need to apply for an environmental license?

  1. You must submit the single environmental license form.

  2. Have the supporting plans for the Environmental Impact Study.

  3. Know the estimated investment and operating costs of the project.

  4. Submit the duly granted “Power of Attorney” when acting through a representative.

  5. Submit proof of payment for the environmental license evaluation service.

  6. Have the Certificate of Existence and Legal Representation.

  7. Process and submit the Certificate from the Ministry of the Interior on the presence or absence of ethnic communities and the existence of collective territories in the project area.

  8. If ethnic communities exist, you must carry out the “prior consultation” process, which gives ethnic communities access and participation in learning about projects or works to be carried out in their territories, provided that they are likely to affect them directly.

  9. You must submit a copy of the filing of the document required by the ICANH (Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History) to verify that there are no archaeological remains in the project area.

  10. Complete the form approved by the competent environmental authority as appropriate (ANLA, Regional CAR, or Ministry of the Environment).

Steps
Steps

What steps should be taken to apply for an Environmental License?

  1. Request the NDA (Environmental Diagnosis Need) form.

  2. Submit the DAA (Environmental Diagnosis of Alternatives) to evaluate and compare the different alternatives under which it is possible to develop the project, work, or activity.

  3. Attend the meeting with the competent environmental authority to present the results of the preliminary verification of documentation.

  4. Notify the respective authority of the start of the Environmental License Application process.

  5. Receive a technical visit from the responsible entity (ANLA, CAR, Minambiente) if required.

  6. Notify the administrative act that defines the alternative for the development of the project.

  7. Request the settlement of the cost for the evaluation of the environmental license.

  8. Make the payment for the evaluation of the environmental license.

Virtuality
Virtuality

Where can I go?

You can contact the relevant environmental authority and obtain additional information through the Comprehensive Online Environmental Procedures Window (VITAL).

 

Costs
Costs

What is the cost of this procedure?

It depends on the fees charged by the environmental agency (in accordance with Article 96 of Law 633 of 2000). The fees are set by means of resolutions.

"In the case of caps, according to Article 96 of Law 633 of 2000, it was determined that fees may not exceed the following caps:

  1. Those with a value of two thousand one hundred and fifteen (2,115) current minimum monthly wages will have a maximum fee of zero point six percent (0.6%).

  2. Those with a value greater than two thousand one hundred and fifteen (2,115) current monthly minimum wages and less than eight thousand four hundred and fifty-eight (8,458) current monthly minimum wages will have a maximum rate of zero point five percent (0.5%).

  3. Those with a value greater than eight thousand four hundred fifty-eight (8,458) current monthly minimum wages will have a maximum rate of zero point four percent (0.4%).

For example:

COP$1,806,535,041

Project value = COP$18 billion.

Environmental impact study equals 10% of the project value = COP$1.8 billion.

Maximum cost of the assessment = COP$6,535,041.

Total cost = COP$1.806 billion.

Time
Time

How long does this process take?

432 business days

Regulations
Regulations

What regulations must I comply with?

Law 99 of 1993. Which creates the Ministry of the Environment, reorganizes the public sector responsible for the management and conservation of the environment and renewable natural resources, organizes the Environmental System (SINA), and enacts other provisions. (Art. 49) (Ordinary Law)

Law 99 of 1993. Creating the Ministry of the Environment, reorganizing the public sector responsible for the management and conservation of the environment and renewable natural resources, organizing the Environmental System (SINA), and establishing other provisions. (Art. 50 Ordinary Law)

2 - Apply for a Building Permit

In the event of executing a construction project, whether it be new construction, expansion, remodeling, modification, adaptation, reconstruction, demolition, or structural reinforcement, prior permission must be obtained from the urban planning authority or a similar authority in each municipality.
Requirements
Requirements

What do I need to apply for a building permit?

  1. You need a copy of the certificate of ownership and transfer dated no more than 30 days prior to issuance.

  2. You need a copy of the identity document of the person or legal representative.

  3. A copy of the property tax payment for the last year.

  4. You need to have a list of the addresses of the properties or buildings adjacent to the project.

  5. You need a copy of the architectural project labeled and signed by a licensed architect (the labeling refers to basic project information such as):

    • Project: Type of work to be built.

    • Contents: Names and details of the plans for each floor to be built.

    • Owners: Names of the people for whom the construction will be carried out.

    • Address: Place or site where the construction will take place.

    • Scale and date: The scale used in each plan and the date of completion of the plans.

    • Number of floors.

    • Name of the project draughtsman.

    • Design is the name of the architect who designed the project to be built.

    • Calculation is the name of the engineer who supported the preparation of the plans.

  6. The architectural project must contain at least the following information:

    • Location.

    • Floor plans.

    • Elevations or sections of the building related to public or private roads on a formal scale. When the project is located on sloping ground, the sections must indicate the actual slope of the terrain.

    • Facades.

    • Roof plan: that is, the plan showing the shape of the upper part of the buildings, i.e., the shape of the roof.

    • Area table: refers to information on the total square meters of a built area and the division of these into the different zones that comprise it.

  7. You must submit the Single National Form for project review and information to the Urban Curator or responsible entity.

  8. If you are acting through a representative, you must submit the special power of attorney, duly granted before a notary or judge of the republic.

Steps
Steps

What steps should I follow to apply for a building permit?

  1. Verify that you meet the above requirements.

  2. Complete the process online through the Single Window for Construction Services at the Urban Planning Office or the entity in charge in each region.

Virtuality
Virtuality

Where can I go?

This process must be carried out at the Urban Curator's Office or municipal entities. You can also obtain more information through the Single Window for Construction (VUC).

Costs
Costs

What is the cost of this procedure?

The cost of the building permit depends on the location, socioeconomic status, square footage, and type of construction to be carried out on the property.

The following is an example of how to calculate the cost of a building permit: COP$7,800,940.

Note: Information based on the urban planning department's fee schedule:

Property with an area of 600 m²

Construction coefficient = 2.61

Fixed cost = COP$1,254,170

Variable cost = COP$6,546,770

Total = COP$7,800,940

Time
Time

How long does this process take?

The estimated time is 63 business days, assuming that no corrections or adjustments need to be made to the documents previously requested, or longer depending on the type of permit required (new construction, expansion, remodeling, modification, adaptation, reconstruction, demolition, or structural reinforcement).

Regulations
Regulations

What regulations must I comply with?

Law 388 of 1997 (Art. 99, paragraphs 1 and 2)

Single Regulatory Decree 1077 of 2015 (Compiled Decree 1203 of 2017) (Art. 2.2.6.1.1.7) (Regulatory Decree)

3 - Pay the delineation tax.

The delineation tax is levied on the issuance of a building permit for new construction, expansion, modification, adaptation, or repair of real estate.
Requirements
Requirements

What do I need to pay the delineation tax?

  1. Check the website or contact your local city hall directly to find out what documents and forms you need to submit to pay the delineation tax.

Steps
Steps

What steps should I take once I have all the documents?

  1. Complete the online form for the advance payment.

  2. Make the advance payment.

  3. Once the work is complete, complete the online form for the settlement or declaration of tax payment.

  4. Make the tax payment.

Virtuality
Virtuality

Where can I go?

You can pay this tax at the financial institution of your choice and obtain further information at the Single Window for Construction (VUC).

Costs
Costs

What is the cost of this procedure?

The cost may vary from one municipality to another. As an example, for the city of Bogotá, the cost is 3% of the construction budget.

Time
Time

How long does this process take?

>1 business day

Regulations
Regulations

What regulations must I comply with?

Law 97 of 1913 (Art. 1) (Ordinary Law)

Decree Law 1333 of 1986. (Art. 233) (Decree Law)

Decree 352 of 2002 of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá. (Art. 72) (District Regulatory Decree)

Agreement 352 of 2008, of the Council of Bogotá. (Art. 2) (Administrative Act)

4 - Request the Electric Power Connection service

With this application, you can connect to the public electricity service.
Requirements
Requirements

What do I need to request an electrical connection?

  1. Present the Certificate of Freedom and Tradition of the property.

  2. Copy of the applicant's ID card.

  3. Copy of the electrician's registration and ID card (CONTE, the National Council of Electricians, will issue the respective certification to the technician to validate their competence in electrical matters).

  4. Self-declaration or RETIE (Technical Regulations for Electrical Installations) certification. The objective is to comply with process standards and safety parameters that guarantee the safety of people, animals, and plants.

  5. Submit the electrical design.

Steps
Steps

What steps should you take once you have all the documents?

Apply for the service from the provider.

Obtain internal wiring certification from a firm accredited by ONAC (National Accreditation Body) or SIC (Superintendency of Industry and Commerce).

Carry out the inspection of external work, meter installation, and energy flow.

Virtuality
Virtuality

Where can I go?

You can contact your regional electricity company and obtain further information at the One-Stop Shop for Construction (VUC).

Costs
Costs

What is the cost of this procedure?

COP$4,227,114

Basis for cost estimation:

Base costs according to ENEL

COP$1,600,000 Certification of internal installations

COP$2,627,114 Inspection of external works

Time
Time

How long does this process take?

Between 45 and 60 business days.

Regulations
Regulations

What regulations must I comply with?

Law 142 of 1994. (Art. 14, section 1425) (Ordinary Law)

Law 142 of 1994. (Art. 131) (Ordinary Law)

Law 142 of 1994. (Art. 132) (Ordinary Law)

5 - Request a water connection

With this process, you can request connection to the public water and sewer service.
Requirements
Requirements

What do I need to apply for water and sewer connection?

  1. Property registration number

  2. Copy of the legal representative's identity document

Steps
Steps

What steps should I take once I have all the documents?

  • Gather the documentation mentioned above.

  • Submit the connection request.

  • Make the payment, which will be charged to your service bill.

Virtuality
Virtuality

Where can I go?

You can visit the water service company in the region where the company is located in person,

and obtain information about the process on the website or by telephone.

Costs
Costs

What is the cost of this procedure?

The cost varies depending on the location and the company's assessment. Basic information according to the ACUEDUCTO de Bogotá procedure guide.

Time
Time

How long does this process take?

Five business days.

Regulations
Regulations

What regulations must I comply with?

Law 142 of 1994. (Art. 14, section 14.22) (Ordinary Law)

Law 142 of 1994. (Art. 131) (Ordinary Law)

Law 142 of 1994. (Art. 132) (Ordinary Law)

6 - Request a gas connection

With this process, you can request connection to the public natural gas service.
Requirements
Requirements

What do I need to apply for a gas connection?

  1. Property registration number

  2. Copy of the legal representative's identity document

Steps
Steps

What steps should I take once I have all the documents?

  1. Gather the aforementioned documentation.

  2. Submit the connection request.

  3. Connection inspection by an authorized representative of the public utility company.

  4. Make the payment, which will be charged to your utility bill.

Virtuality
Virtuality

Where can I go?

You can contact your regional gas service company, but be sure to get more information about the process online or by phone.

Costs
Costs

What is the cost of this procedure?

The cost may vary depending on the characteristics of the installation.

Example of cost for gas installation in a home

COP$148,427 + VAT (Value Added Tax)

Time
Time

How long does this process take?

The time will depend on the characteristics of the service requested (new connection, gas pipeline, installation, project location, among others).

Regulations
Regulations

What regulations must I comply with?

Law 142 of 1994. Establishing the regime for residential public services and other provisions. (Art. 14, section 14.28) (Ordinary Law)

Law 142 of 1994. Establishing the regime for residential public services and other provisions. (Art. 131) (Ordinary Law)

Law 142 of 1994. Establishing the regime for residential public services and other provisions. (Art. 132) (Ordinary Law)

7 - Apply for authorization to occupy the property.

The Property Occupancy Permit. This is the act by which the competent authority for urban control and subsequent construction certification certifies, by means of a detailed report, full compliance with the following:

  • That the work on the property was carried out in accordance with the approved building permit.

  • That the works to bring the building into compliance with earthquake resistance standards and/or urban planning and architectural standards set forth in the building inspection report were carried out in accordance with those standards.

Requirements
Requirements

What do I need to apply for authorization to occupy the property?

A letter requesting such authorization must be submitted.

Steps
Steps

What steps should I take once I have all the documents?

  1. Gather the documents and meet the requirements established for the procedure.

  2. Submit the required document.

Virtuality
Virtuality

Where can I go?

This procedure must be carried out in person at the Regional Municipality, and information on the process can be obtained on the website through the Single Window for Construction or by telephone.

Costs
Costs

What is the cost of this procedure?

No cost

Time
Time

How long does this process take?

On average, this process takes 21 business days.

Regulations
Regulations

What regulations must I comply with?

Single Regulatory Decree 1077 of 2015. (Amended by Decree 1203 of 2017, Art. 11) (Art. 2.2.6.1.2.3.6) (Regulatory Decree)

Single Regulatory Decree 1077 of 2015. (Amended by Decree 1203 of 2017, Art. 13) (Art. 2.2.6.1.4.1) (Regulatory Decree)

Decree 1469 of 2010 (Art. 39) (Regulatory Decree)

Decree 1203 of 2017