MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile received two million tourists in 2005

The number of foreign tourists in Chile increased 13.6% last year surpassing the two million target with income reaching 1.5 billion US dollars said Oscar Santelices head of Chile's Tourist Board.

The exact number was 2.000.027 tourists with the Brazilians recording the largest increase 40%, although Argentina continues as the main source of visitors.

However it's not clear if the total numbers includes an estimated 80.000 Peruvians that according to the International Labour Organization remained in Chile looking for jobs and better living conditions.

The number of Argentines visiting Chile also jumped 20% in 2005 to 606.000, but it's not clear how many decided to stay in Chile in search of better working conditions.

Overall the number of tourists from the Americas increased 14.2%; Europe, 11.8% and Asia, 1.4%. In America behind Brazil comes the US with a 10.5% jump and Canada 19.6%. European tourists totalled 365.229, with 19% coming from Spain; 15.9% Germany; 11.2% France and 5.4% from Britain, among other countries.

Mr. Santelices added that according to a receptive tourism poll, most visitors, 65%, come to spend holidays in Chile; 15% to meet with relatives and 10% for business.

Furthermore the growth tendency has been confirmed during the first two weeks of January with the arrival of 84.657 tourists, representing a 15.56% increase over the same period a year ago.