With a view of finding support from the state level to more effectively develop cruise tourism in Chile, various representatives from the Corporation of Southern Cone Ports (le Corporación de Puertos del Cono Sur) – an association of ports and terminals formed for a purpose of promoting cruise business in Chile - met with Javiera Montes, the country’s Sub-secretary of Tourism, to explore viable ways forward. Alan Lam reports.

Chile’s cruise business potentials have always been limited by its peculiar geography. The meeting, held recently in the Ministry of Economy offices in Santiago, was chaired by Javiera Montes and Ignacio Covacevich, President of the Corporation, aimed to establish state and legislative supports for the relatively stagnating Chilean cruise industry. It was attended by Estaban Bilbao, Director of the Corporation, and Sabastián Montero, the executive director of the same organisation.

“It is important,” said Ignacio Covacevich, “that the state’s principal tourism authority supports our efforts - together with our experience and knowledge gained throughout the years in the cruise industry - in propelling further growth in tourism activities of our nation.”

One of the main objectives of this meeting was to recognise the Corporation’s achievements in recent years, which included having successfully negotiated a reduction in navigation fees, liberating regulatory controls of onboard casinos in Chilean waters, and organising Chile’s presence in various global cruise trade fairs.

Chile receives about 3.5 million tourists each year, of which only about 350,000 are cruise related. The main aim of this meeting was to find a path of cooperation between the Corporation and the state to increase cruise tourism in Chile. Both parties agreed to work closely hereafter, to generate and share information relating to cruise tourism.

The issue of cabotage was on the table. “Our objective was to communicate to the Sub-secretary,” said Ignacio Covacevich, “that the future cruise industry in Chile depends on opening of a passenger cabotage.”

“On the global level,” explained Ignacio Covacevich, “more than 90% of the itineraries are of seven days or shorter. The itineraries operating in Chile, mostly on the Valparaíso-Buenos Aires trajectory, last 14 days. A passenger cabotage will allow shorter itineraries, permitting international cruise lines to embark and disembark within Chilean territories. This will substantially increase cruise activities in the country.” However, he stressed that, this move must protect the interests of the national cruise industry.