MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas, Chile's main cruise port

Punta Arenas is forecasted to become this 2006/07 season Chile's main cruise port with a scheduled 163 foreign and domestic calls surpassing Valparaiso.

According to Alejandro Riquelme from the Punta Arenas Maritime Chamber approximately 100.000 visitors (66.000 passengers and 34.000 crew members) will be visiting the region.

"This represents a 32% increase over the last season and above the 10 to 20% annual growth of the industry globally", said Mr. Riquelme who added that Punta Arenas has its own attractions "which makes visitors tour the city and its surroundings".

Punta Arenas port authorities are investing in the improvement of the jetties, landing facilities and expanding the passengers' terminal.

Mr Riquelme also pointed out that the cruise visitors landing in Punta Arenas belong to high income brackets and although "we still have to reach the average 200 US dollars per capita expenditure of the Caribbean cruises, we are in the range of 100 US dollars per capita".

Following on those numbers Riquelme said that 100.000 visitors at 100 US dollars per day means cruise visitors will inject an estimated ten million US dollars to Punta Arenas economy.

However Mr Riquelme also revealed that of the 163 anticipated calls, 62 belong to the Chilean Cruceros Australis company, which don't necessarily carry visitors which such an expenditure record.

Specifically asked on the point he admitted that over 40% of all foreign visitors could be described as "big spenders".