MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina-Chile to jointly promote Patagonia tourism

El Calafate in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province will be hosting the second Argentina-Chile Patagonia Tourism operators meeting scheduled for mid April and which is expected to convene over 200 experts. The first event was held in Chile’s Magallanes region.

“In hard times, the best we can do is coordinate and work together”, said Christian Miranda, head of Santa Cruz regional tourism office.

According to the program, representatives from Patagonian provincial governments will address different aspects of the industry, prospects, incentives and support plans. This will be followed by work-shops and meetings of guides’ associations.

The program includes a visit to the world famous Perito Moreno glacier; a cultural show at El Calafate’s Chilean Centre and a performance from the Municipal Dance School.

Luis Hernandez from the Austro-Chile Tourism Chamber said it was essential for operators from both sides of the border to participate in the event.

“Exchanging information is vital, for we have to add efforts, complement tasks with a non competitive attitude between our regions, Patagonia is one”, he underlined.

Boris Mihovilovic, head of Institutional Relations for the Patagonia Capital Guides Association said that “flora and fauna on both sides of the border is similar and Patagonian history is basically shared, so we must target an integrated approach”.

In related news the Chilean Development Corporation, Magallanes chapter, revealed that between 2008 and 2010, “the region expects to have materialized twenty tourism related projects totalling 10 million US dollars in investments”.

Bernadro Troncoso remarks were done during the recent “First Chilean Patagonia international nautical tourism forum” organized by InvestChile and Corfo (Development Corporation), which was held in Puerto Natales.

Business representatives from thirteen different companies from the US and Europe were shown investment opportunities in nautical tourism in the region, legal framework and market potential.

“We already have an investment promotion program for nautical tourism investments in Patagonia and the forum was geared to have foreign companies invest with local enterprises and/or projects”, added Mr. Troncoso.