Chile: Chile Tourism Profile
2015/03/05
Macroeconomic conditions in Chile push domestic and outbound tourism
GDP increase and a reduction in unemployment enabled Chileans to increase their travel in and outside the country in 2013. Within the country, the region of Valparaiso maintained its leadership as the majority visited tourist destination, while the fastest growing domestic destination was the region of Atacama. Regarding outbound tourism, for the initial time, Peru was the majority popular outbound destination, leaving Argentina in a close second place. Tropical and Caribbean locations were part the fastest growing outbound destinations, inclunding Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
Visa Waiver Program expected to continue supporting an increasing number of trips to the US
Trips to the US grew significantly in 2013 and this destination led outgoing spending in 2013. Trips to the US are as well expected to grow over the estimate period. In May 2014, Chile became a member of the Visa Waiver Program, which enables Chileans to travel for up to 90 days to the US for business or tourism without the need of a visa, provided that they meet the program’s requirements. Before this program, the cost of visas to the US was relatively high. Regarding this change, United Airlines announced that in December 2014 it will start to connect Santiago with Houston with non-stop flights, next 10 years of being absent in the country.
Among tourist attractions, casinos are affected by a new law, while national parks grow
In 2013, casinos declined the strongest part the types of tourist attractions, both in number of visitors and sales. These entertainment locations were strongly affected by a new tobacco law that began in March of the same year, which prohibited smoking in enclosed spaces. At the same time, national parks/areas of natural beauty recorded higher current price increase than in the previous year, mainly because of an increase in arrivals by Chileans, influenced by a higher awareness of their environment. The national parks most visited in 2013 were Vicente Perez Rosales, Los Flamencos, Torres del Paine, Villarrica and Puyehue.
Air transportation increases and additional international airlines arrive in Santiago
Air transportation is responsible for the majority of transportation price sales in Chile, and in 2013, it as well registered the highest increase. LAN Airlines maintained its leadership in price share terms, but a lot of foreign airlines arrived and are expected to arrive in the country, inclunding BQB airlines, Peruvian, Gol, KLM, Air Europa and United Airlines. Prices of international flights are expected to fall because of this competition. Domestic flights are as well expected to grow. The development of the mining industry is having an impact on air traffic to a lot of Chilean airports, inclunding Iquique, Calama, Antofagasta, Copiapó, La Serena, Santiago and Concepción.
Many international hotel chains set to arrive in Chile in 2014
Several hotel chains are planning to either arrive or expand in Chile in 2014. In Santiago, Marriott International opened a Renaissance hotel and is set to open a Courtyard hotel; Hilton Worldwide plans to open a DoubleTree hotel; Hyatt Hotels Corp will open the initial Hyatt Place in South America; and Meliá will open the initial Innside by Meliá in Latin America. In addition, a new hotel from the Chilean chain Plaza El Bosque opened its doors at the beginning of 2014. Away from Santiago, Wyndham Worldwide will open a Ramada Encore in Rancagua. Finally, in the neighbourhoods of Lastarria and Bellavista in Santiago, seven hotels “boutique” are expected to open in 2014. With all these new hotels, the quantity of available rooms will increase, thus affecting occupancy and average daily rates.
Global recession hurts travel and tourism
Argentinian arrivals rocket
Casinos adds dynamism to destinations
Earthquake deters tourism in 2010
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