MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Record winter season in Chile's ski resorts

The tourism winter season in Chile has been described as the best in the last five years with a significant jump in the number of foreign visitors, reported Oscar Santelices head of the Chilean Tourist Office, Sernatur.

In July the number of foreign tourists reached 143.304, a 13,5% increase over a year ago with the Brazilians as the most dynamic group growing 42,6%, with 23.774.

Arrival of North American tourists in July compared to the same month in 2004 increased 15,6% (United States, 18,7%), and from Europe, Spain jumped 23,5% and France 36,1% equivalent to 5.015 tourists.

"A considerable number of tourists arriving in Chile this winter season have done so under the sponsoring of the "Ski Chile" promotion campaign with the help of the Chilean Tourist Corporation which intelligently attracted operators and public in general", said Mr. Santelices.

Regarding income from the two main months of the winter season Mr. Santelices estimated tourists will be leaving between 190 and 200 million US dollars compared to 135 million a year ago.

Since the season still is not over, "it can be considered one of the most successful of the last few years, not only because of the greater number of foreign arrivals but because weather forecasts anticipate snow will remain in the ski resorts until at least October", stressed Mr. Santelices.

"Snow ski tourism has become a strategic sales product for Chile since it targets special interest groups, which is helping us become one of the world's attractions", he added.

As to the overall numbers during the first seven months of 2005, Mr. Santelices indicated that 1.165.666 tourists arrived in Chile, 10,9% increase over the same period in 2004.

"If we can keep the first half thrust, with arrivals increasing 10% in 2005, it could be a record year with over two million foreign tourists and 1,5 billion US dollars in income", highlighted the head of Chile's Tourist Office.

Foreign arrivals by continent and percentage increase over a year ago during the first seven months of 2005: South America, 743.062 and 10,7%; North America, 153.459 and 14,6%; Central America, 6.857 and 13,2%; Europe, 199.503 and 9,3% and Oceania, 19.776 and 9%.