MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Europeans represent 40% of Chile's tourism income

Europeans make up 18% of tourists visiting Chile but represent 40% of tourism income according to a report from the Euro-Chile business foundation released this week.

The report covers the 2000/2005 period and shows that the number of European tourists has remained stable at 18%.

"Although European tourists are not the main market for Chile's tourist industry, their contribution in financial terms is more significant than from other origins", said EuroChile managing director Jose Aravena.

And among Europeans, Spaniards are those which most spend when they visit Chile.

The report also shows that in 2005 Chile received 2.027.082 foreign tourists, up 14% over the previous year. European arrivals increased 12% between 2004 and 2005 which is equivalent to 38.541 tourists.

With these numbers the European Union has become the second market, behind South America, for Chile's tourism industry.

"Traditionally the most relevant European markets for Chile have been Germany, Spain, England, France and Italy, making up 71% of all arrivals", said Aravena.

Germany took the lead in 2005 with a 16% growth over 2004, followed by Spaniards and French.

Aravena estimates that by 2010 the number of European tourists arriving in Chile could reach 600.000, although he warned the industry must start preparing for such an influx.