MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile plans to improve air link with Tierra del Fuego

Puerto Williams in Chilean Tierra del Fuego will have its airstrip expanded and facilities improved to allow commercial flights thus helping to increase opportunities for the regional tourism industry.

Chile's Airports Agency director general Yazmin Balboa made the official announcement saying that the feasibility studies will be tendered before the end of the year and hopefully they should be concluded by the end of the first half of 2009. Magallanes Region council in Punta Arenas voted the equivalent of 150.000 US dollars for the report which should help Puerto Williams share some of the booming tourism enjoyed by Ushuaia, in Argentine Tierra del Fuego located in the same area. Ms Balboa said the project responds to the Regional Development Strategy Plan (2001/2010) which has the purpose of consolidating Chilean territory and the integration of Patagonia, "an ongoing commitment from the regional government (Magallanes) and Chile's Public Works Ministry". "The feasibility study should help improve Puerto William's connectivity with the region and give us an idea of technical and financial aspects involved, particularly extending the airstrip which given the topography of the area won't be cheap", said Daniel Cortés head of Airports Departments in the Public Works Ministry. Given Puerto Williams condition as Chile's most southern city, it could rapidly become one of the tourists hot spots of the area said Ms Balboa. "Improved infrastructure will bring in more tourists, take advantage of trekking expeditions in some circuits which have been recommended by Chile's Bicentennial "Path project" and connect appropriately with Ushuaia a few kilometres away", she added plus more practical aspects such as medical evacuations from a vast insular area in Tierra del Fuego.