MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas lost 18.000 cruise visitors this season

The ban to operate casinos while in Chilean waters was determinant

Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile is experiencing a significant drop in the number of cruise visitors this season according to the Austral Port Authority, EPA.

Two main factors have been identified for the decrease that has been estimated in 18.000 visitors: the January gas conflict which paralyzed the region when the protesting community organized in a citizens’ assembly decided to cease all activities, and secondly the fact cruise vessels are banned from operating their casinos in Chilean waters.

“During January the Veendam and the Albatros simply did not call in Punta Arenas, we are talking of 2.200 visitors, and another situation happened with the Silver Whisper, which although docked it was unable to undertake all local activities planned”, said Miguel Bisso, EPA Deputy Manager for Services and Contracts.

“This means that this season 100 cruise vessels will be calling in Punta Arenas compared to the 125 of last season (2009/2010).

But Arturo Aliaga, Manager of Comapa Tourism from Punta Arenas was far more drastic and said it was the poorest season in fifteen years.

“Cruise vessels calls were ostensibly down because the main operators decided not to come and others drastically reduced their calls in the Valparaíso Buenos Aires leg”, said Aliaga who added another ingredient.

“Tourist demands are changing, we have far more Latinos now who don’t face the language barrier of US or European visitors and they make their own arrangements and simply do not contract the tours and other shore amenities offered by the cruise vessels” pointed out Aliaga.

However the head of Magallanes Tourism Office Andrea Teliz said that they are already working on stopping “the leakage” of visitors for the next season.

“The next cruise Seatrade fair in Miami, Chile’s national Tourism Director Alvaro Castilla will make public to the main international operators that they will be allowed to open their casinos in Chilean waters, plus the significant fees’ rebates of up to 80% for harbour, pilot and lighthouse services” along the Chilean coastline.

“This, I’m sure”, said Ms Teliz, “will attract cruise vessels and new passenger ships”.