MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Average tourist visiting Chile is 50 years old and from the Americas

Report divides tourists in five different categories and has Santiago as the most popular destination

More than 3.6 million foreigners from all over the world visit Chile spending nearly two billion US dollars every year. To better understand the growing tourism industry in Chile, the country’s national tourism service, Sernatur, has just released a study called “Type of Potential Tourists and Demands in Chile” which categorizes and analyzes tourists’ behaviour while visiting the country.

“[The Study] is key if we want to develop attractive products and become a desired destination for travellers,” Sernatur director Jacqueline Plass told La Tercera.

The study divided foreign tourists into five different categories, ranging from independent to less confident travellers. The three independent traveller categories divided into culture lovers, adventure seekers and nightlife connoisseurs.

Culture lovers were categorized as travellers who are more likely to visit historical towns, museums and monuments. Adventure seekers were identified as travelling even more independently and pursuing outdoor activities.

Finally, nightlife lovers are mostly friendly and outgoing young people who will chose to visit more traditional places. Sernatur says many of these visitors are often Brazilian.

On the less independent side are athletes and relaxation travellers. Most athletic travellers are looking for locations and activities based around sports, and in Chile this most often means skiing and fishing. Sernatur describes relaxed travellers as having less confidence than many visiting Chile and more likely to travel in groups.

The Sernatur study also analyzed more specific data, including the demographics of travellers and why they chose to visit Chile.

According to the study, the average foreign tourist is 50 years old and has both a high income and a high level of education. They tend to be experienced travellers, often travelling in pairs and small groups, while at the same time having an appreciation for nature.

The main reason tourists said they travelled to Chile were for holidays, visiting relatives and friends and for business. The most popular destinations are Santiago, Valparaiso, San Pedro de Atacama and Patagonia, and foreigners also look to experience the country’s wine and food.

“While Santiago and its surroundings are the most visited destination, foreigners also enjoy special interest tourism, so unique destinations seeking to become life experiences,” Plass told La Tercera.

The study found that 83% of foreign tourists visiting Chile are from the Americas, 13.5% are from Europe, 1% from Asia and 2.5% from other parts of the world. Many of the tourists come from South America and of those more than 60% come from neighbouring countries of Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. More than one million Argentines visit Chile each year, mostly in the summer months. In total they generate 300 million USD in revenue each year.

Overall, tourism generates for Chile 1.98 billion USD in revenue annually. Sernatur found that this breaks down to 28.8% for accommodations, 20.4% in restaurants, 16% on purchases, 10.7% on tours and 9% on transportation. On average, the study concluded that each foreign tourist spends 570 USD while in Chile.
 

By Kayla Ruble – Santiago Times