Foreign tourism companies analyse investment alternatives in ChilePublished: April 1, 2009
The companies learned of the benefits which Chile has to offer nautical tourism projects, regulations relating to the sector and destinations with the greatest potential.
Visiting Chile for the "First International Forum to Promote Nautical Tourism in Chilean Patagonia", over 30 European and North American tourist companies showed a genuine interest in developing business in Chile related to this area. Organised by the Chilean Economic Development Agency's (CORFO) InvestChile program, the event was part of a program to develop business related to sailing in Chilean Patagonia, a project which has been ongoing since 2006.
The Forum was officially opened by the Executive Vice-president of CORFO, Carlos Álvarez. He emphasised that, "various international sources have cited our economy as being the most competitive in the region and as having the best environment in which to do business. The situation in Chile is very attractive for foreign investors looking for a platform to export goods and services to Latin America and beyond. It is also conducive to the promotion of enterprise in various areas."
At the event, the international entrepreneurs were shown the advantages of Chile for investment in tourism projects, regulations relating to the sector and destinations with the greatest potential for development. They also made on-site visits to different projects of interest.
Regional Agenda
The visits included trips within Northern Patagonia, which covers the area between Puerto Montt and Valdivia. The entrepreneurs were shown the benefits of the area for the development of tourism. They visited successful projects in the Los Lagos region, travelled along the Inter-Lagos (Inter-Lake) route and were taken around the waterways of Valdivia.
In Valdivia, they held a business roundtable. The visitors met with the Regional Governor, Iván Flores; the regional director of Sernatur, Loreto Cerca, and the regional director of CORFO, Carlos Amtmann, as well as local figures involved with tourism. The governor highlighted the importance of the Forum: "the Regional Government will continue to make every effort to support the tourism sector. We aim to promote the region both nationally and internationally and in that sense, this visit is very positive."
Another group visited Southern Patagonia. Beginning in Puerto Montt, their trip included visits to Chiloé, the Aysén channels and Puerto Natales. In Puerto Natales the group held a series of business roundtables and visited various investment projects.
A third group, joined by Spanish IT firms related with the sector, will travel to Valparaíso to visit the Curauma Technology building.
Auspicious start
CORFO's efforts to increase investment in the area of nautical tourism began in 2006. The findings of its study to identify and evaluate business opportunities related with sailing in Chilean Patagonia were excellent. A number of suitable circuits were found in the Los Rios, Los Lagos, Aysén and Magallanes regions and this produced a portfolio of projects supported both by CORFO and by private investors.
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