MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Magallanes enjoying an unexpected excellent cruise season

“The number of cruise visitors has jumped from an expected 60.000 to 80.000 with 119 calls to the end of the season next April, representing a 30% increase” said Araya

Chile anticipates a 30% increase in cruise activity in the extreme south of the country, mainly Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, announced Lorena Araya, head of Magallanes region National Tourism Service, Sernatur.

 
“The number of cruise visitors have jumped from an expected 60.000 to 80.000 with 119 calls to the end of the season next April, which represents a 30% increase in the number of tourists wondering around the city or looking for tours”, pointed out Ms Araya.

The officer added that Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales since last October have recorded the highest level of occupancy, which means the region is highly competitive regionally and at national level.

“We're usually ranked on the top although not necessarily visits since Santiago is the main arrival point, and from there on visitors spread to the rest of Chile”.

Likewise Sernatur data shows that last January the Torres del Paine park received an additional 11% of visitors compared to the same month a year ago. “Hopefully we can retain visitors by diversifying and improving services at the park, plus the international campaign and doing something similar in other regions of Chile”, said Ms Araya.

Visitors to Magallanes region are mostly from United States, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, mainly France and they come “with an adventure spirit looking for wildlife tourism, much photography and visiting unique and pristine places. And they are willing to pay more if they are convinced it's real adventure”.

However Araya admitted that 'external factors' have also helped such as the weak Chilean Peso and strong dollar, which makes it more attractive and Chile has become a 'relative cheap place to visit“. The same can be said for Chileans, who will have to pay more it they plan going for vacations overseas, with a dearer dollar.

”Magallanes is registering a 44% increase in the number of Chileans visiting the region compared to only a year ago. This also means, and we must continue to work on it, that we have been capable of adapting our services to the pocket of Chileans“, said Araya.

Sernatur Magallanes is betting on diversification since nowadays people are interested in watching whales and marine life, a mix of scientific, historic, cultural tourism but particularly 'green spaces' underlined Araya.

”They come for sustainability, ecosystems, pristine landscapes, conservation and our parks have all that and more to offer“, indicated Araya. And in line with these attractions ”we must keep in mind that almost half of Magallanes territory are national parks of bio-diversity reserves; in effect the number of visitors attracted to natural forests and wildlife has jumped 14% from a year ago”, revealed Ms Araya.