MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean tourism expanded 6% in 2008 with 2.65m foreigners

Tourism activity in Chile during 2008 has expanded 6% compared to the previous year according to Oscar Santelices, Chile's head of the Tourist Office, Sernatur.

"In 2008, a total of 2.650.000 foreign tourists arrived in Chile, which in money terms can be estimated in 2.02 billion US dollars, 12% up from 2007", added Santelices. The fastest growing markets were Brazil, 15%; Argentina, 11%; Israel, 21%; Canada, 8%; Japan, 11%; United States, 5%; Germany, 6% and Holland, 26%. According to Sernatur daily average expenditure of tourists was as follows: Brazilians between 85 and 110 US dollars; Mexicans, 90 to 150 USD; UK, 70 to 1000 USD and from the US, 85 to 110 USD. Those coming from Asia spend on average per day, 105 to 135 USD and Europeans, 60 to 70 USD. Senatur estimates that during the first high season months of next year, some 750.000 foreign tourists will be arriving in Chile, including Chileans overseas that in money terms can be forecasted in the range of 500 million US dollars.