Tourism to increase 10% this year according to National Tourism Service

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SANTIAGO. -  The Chilean tourism industry is anticipating a more than 10% growth spurt this year due to the nearly 700 thousand foreign tourists who will arrive this summer, many of whom are Chilean residents residing abroad. They are expected to spend more than 400 million U.S. dollars while in the country.

The high season of January and February accounts for 30% of the year’s foreign tourism.  According to the Director of the National Tourism Service (Sernatur), Oscar Santelices, records for 2007 indicated “the arrival of close to two and a half million visitors”.

International tourism accounts for more than 1.7 billion U.S. dollars per year.  The most popular tourist destinations are Valparaíso, Patagonia, San Pedro de Atacama and the Arica-Parinacota Region.

The majority of income attributed to tourism comes from North America and Europe, although Argentina is the number one source of tourists, making up for 35% of all visitors to the country during the year.