Law 1336 of 2009, which strengthens Law 679 of 2001, requires every tourism service provider in Colombia — including Airbnb and Booking hosts with an active RNT — to adopt a code of conduct against the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents (ESCNNA, its Spanish acronym). It's a requirement to register or renew your RNT, and skipping it carries penalties. Here's what it means, what you need to do, and what's at stake if you ignore it.
Start for free with RapitraESCNNA stands for Explotación Sexual Comercial de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes — the commercial sexual exploitation of minors in exchange for money, favors, or any kind of payment, including so-called "sex tourism." It's a crime in Colombia (articles 213 to 219B of the Criminal Code, added by Law 679 of 2001), and the law places part of the responsibility for preventing it on the tourism sector: hotels, travel agencies, airlines, and also short-term rentals like the ones listed on Airbnb or Booking.
Sets the general framework against exploitation, pornography, and sex tourism involving minors. Article 16 requires tourism providers to adopt codes of conduct, and Article 17 requires warning guests about the legal consequences of these crimes as part of the lodging agreement.
Spells out the obligation: tourism providers must adopt, publicly display, and update when required an effective code of conduct (Art. 1). Article 5 ties RNT registration and renewal to that adherence — without a code of conduct, MinCIT will not process your registration.
The law refers to "tourism service providers" as defined in Article 62 of Law 300 of 1996 — a broad category that includes lodging establishments of any size. If you hold an active RNT for your Airbnb, your Booking listing, or any other tourist accommodation, this obligation applies to you the same way it applies to a hotel.
Airbnb, Booking, or direct-booking hosts with an active RNT
Hotels, hostels, and aparthotels
Travel and tourism agencies
Airlines flying international routes into Colombia
Any provider that can generate domestic or international tourism
Adhering to the code of conduct is a one-time step, not something you repeat for every guest.
When you fill out the Registro Nacional de Turismo (or its annual renewal) on the RNT platform, there's a specific step where you accept the Law 1336 of 2009 code of conduct. Without that acceptance, the registration doesn't go through.
The law requires posting it in a public place at the establishment. For an Airbnb-style rental, that means keeping it visible at the property (next to your house rules, for example) and, where relevant, available through your digital check-in materials.
Article 17 of Law 679 of 2001 requires informing guests about the legal consequences of child sexual exploitation in Colombia. You can add it as a clause in your house rules or check-in instructions.
If you have cleaning staff, a property manager, or anyone else who checks guests in on your behalf, they need to know what ESCNNA is and what to do if they notice warning signs.
Reporting is a legal duty for anyone residing in Colombia, not just the tourism sector. If you notice a risk situation, report it to the Tourism Police, ICBF, or ICBF's hotline (141).
The code must be updated if the tourism authority changes the current model, so check MinCIT's site or your local Chamber of Commerce periodically.
Article 20 of Law 679 of 2001 sets specific administrative sanctions for tourism providers who fail to meet these obligations, on top of any criminal penalties tied to the underlying crime:
Fines of up to 300 monthly minimum wages (SMLMV)
Suspension of your RNT registration for up to 90 calendar days
Cancellation of your RNT, barring you from tourism activity for 5 years
Ineligibility for the Certificado de Desarrollo Turístico
Like with the TRA and SIRE, the most common failure here isn't bad intent — it's not knowing the step exists, or skipping it when registering your RNT.
The ESCNNA code of conduct is adhered to once, when you register or renew your RNT — it doesn't depend on each booking. What does need automation are the obligations that repeat with every guest: the TRA and the SIRE. With Rapitra, your guest fills out a single form and both reports are transmitted automatically for each stay, so the rest of your tourism compliance doesn't depend on you remembering.
Automate TRA and SIRE with RapitraIt applies to any tourism service provider with an active RNT, including Airbnb, Booking, and direct-booking hosts. The law doesn't distinguish by the size of the accommodation or the booking channel.
Operating without an RNT is itself a separate, sanctionable violation, apart from ESCNNA. If you don't have an RNT yet, that's the first step — adhering to the code of conduct happens within that same registration process.
It happens during your annual RNT renewal: the form includes a step where you accept the Law 1336 of 2009 code of conduct. If you renewed this year and don't remember seeing it, check with your Chamber of Commerce.
The law requires posting it in a public place at the establishment. For a short-term rental, the most practical approach is keeping it visible at the property (next to your house rules) and mentioning it in your check-in instructions.
No — adhering to the code happens directly in your RNT registration or renewal, and it's not something a third party can file on your behalf. Rapitra automates the obligations that do repeat with every guest: the TRA and the SIRE.
Adhering to the code of conduct is a one-time step in your RNT. With Rapitra you automate what actually repeats: the TRA and the SIRE for every guest, without relying on memory.
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