Chile - Travel and TourismChile - Travel and Tourism
Overview
The United States is the most popular oversea destination for Chileans, surpassed only by the bordering countries of Argentina and Peru. Chile is the only country in Latin America with the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Since the implementation of VWP in 2014, the number of Chilean travelers to the United States has increased by almost 50 percent. Chileans travel to the U.S. mainly for vacation and pleasure, but education and business are also significant. The number of Chilean tourists to the U.S. grew by 10.4% from 2017-2018. According to information from the Under Secretariat of Tourism in Chile, the average Chilean spent 14.5 nights in the United States for each visit in 2017. The cost of the average trip in 2017 was around $2,000 USD.
connectivity hubs.
Source: www.jac.gob.cl; www.sernatur.cl; www.travel.trade.gov
Market Challenges
Even though the United States is the preferred destination for Chilean travelers, it faces the strong competition from other destinations in the Caribbean and their all-inclusive-style resorts that are cost-effective alternatives for family vacations. Chileans also enjoy deeply discounted travel to European countries through various airlines and cruise lines that offer many itineraries at very attractive prices. International travel to neighboring countries of Argentina and Peru is less expensive than a trip to the United States, and many Chilean travelers opt for a more cost- and time-effective trip to a neighboring country. To face these challenges, the U.S. needs to promote its destinations and unique attractions. The U.S. Commercial Service has many services available for U.S. companies interested in promoting their services and products.
Opportunities
Almost seventy percent of Chileans who visit the United States travel for vacation. During vacations, most Chileans like to spend some time at the beach, visit family attractions, amusement parks and shopping, especially in outlet malls. Chileans enjoy attending sport, cultural and/or concert events, such as the US Open tennis tournament, opera, and music festivals, but only the upper-middle class and upper class of the Chilean population can afford these events since they can be very expensive. Some tour operators and travel agencies specialize in organizing packages for this type of events. Approximately twelve percent travel to visit friends and family and vacation and fifteen percent of Chileans travel for business and educational purposes.
The preferred U.S. destination for Chilean family vacations is Florida, especially Miami for its beaches and Orlando for its attractions and outlet shopping malls. Chileans are attracted to other Florida destinations if further promotion is done in the country. There is significant potential for other destinations such as national parks, skiing areas in Colorado and Utah, and cities like New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and others. Many Chileans travel in the months of January and February, when they are on summer vacation and are less likely to visit beaches in the U.S. during its winter.
Chile does not hold an event focused on traveling to the United States. However, the U.S. Commercial Service offers services to U.S. companies interested in promoting their destination, product and services, including the Single Company Promotion,. For more information about our service please visit www.export.gov/Single-Company-Promotion.
Web Resources
www.sernatur.cl
www.jac.gob.cl
www.travel.trade.gov
For additional information please contact: isabel.valenzuela@trade.gov Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
The United States is the most popular oversea destination for Chileans, surpassed only by the bordering countries of Argentina and Peru. Chile is the only country in Latin America with the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Since the implementation of VWP in 2014, the number of Chilean travelers to the United States has increased by almost 50 percent. Chileans travel to the U.S. mainly for vacation and pleasure, but education and business are also significant. The number of Chilean tourists to the U.S. grew by 10.4% from 2017-2018. According to information from the Under Secretariat of Tourism in Chile, the average Chilean spent 14.5 nights in the United States for each visit in 2017. The cost of the average trip in 2017 was around $2,000 USD.
connectivity hubs.
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 estimated | |
| Total Outbound Travelers | 5,640,700 | 5,750,200 | 5,900,000 | 6,500,000 |
| Total Inbound Travelers | 3,3552,861 | 3,850,100 | 4,400,000 | 4,700,000 |
| Total Travelers to U.S. | 299,386 | 348,200 | 364,622 | 400,000 |
| Average Expenditures per person for 14-days stay | USD 1,899 | USD 1,902 | USD 1,905 | USD 1,910 |
| Total Average Expenditures by Year | USD 568,534,014 | USD 662,276,400 | USD 694,604,910 | USD 764,000,000 |
| Exchange Rate: 1 USD | 676 | 649 | 621 | N/A |
Market Challenges
Even though the United States is the preferred destination for Chilean travelers, it faces the strong competition from other destinations in the Caribbean and their all-inclusive-style resorts that are cost-effective alternatives for family vacations. Chileans also enjoy deeply discounted travel to European countries through various airlines and cruise lines that offer many itineraries at very attractive prices. International travel to neighboring countries of Argentina and Peru is less expensive than a trip to the United States, and many Chilean travelers opt for a more cost- and time-effective trip to a neighboring country. To face these challenges, the U.S. needs to promote its destinations and unique attractions. The U.S. Commercial Service has many services available for U.S. companies interested in promoting their services and products.
Opportunities
Almost seventy percent of Chileans who visit the United States travel for vacation. During vacations, most Chileans like to spend some time at the beach, visit family attractions, amusement parks and shopping, especially in outlet malls. Chileans enjoy attending sport, cultural and/or concert events, such as the US Open tennis tournament, opera, and music festivals, but only the upper-middle class and upper class of the Chilean population can afford these events since they can be very expensive. Some tour operators and travel agencies specialize in organizing packages for this type of events. Approximately twelve percent travel to visit friends and family and vacation and fifteen percent of Chileans travel for business and educational purposes.
The preferred U.S. destination for Chilean family vacations is Florida, especially Miami for its beaches and Orlando for its attractions and outlet shopping malls. Chileans are attracted to other Florida destinations if further promotion is done in the country. There is significant potential for other destinations such as national parks, skiing areas in Colorado and Utah, and cities like New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and others. Many Chileans travel in the months of January and February, when they are on summer vacation and are less likely to visit beaches in the U.S. during its winter.
Chile does not hold an event focused on traveling to the United States. However, the U.S. Commercial Service offers services to U.S. companies interested in promoting their destination, product and services, including the Single Company Promotion,. For more information about our service please visit www.export.gov/Single-Company-Promotion.
Web Resources
www.sernatur.cl
www.jac.gob.cl
www.travel.trade.gov
For additional information please contact: isabel.valenzuela@trade.gov Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.