Chilean authorities project up to 1.9 million domestic trips for Fiestas Patrias

At La Piojera Restaurant, located in the historic center of Santiago, the Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, the Undersecretary of Tourism, the National Director of Sernatur, the National Director of Sernac, and the Mayor of Santiago met to announce the number of trips planned, their destinations, and overviews and recommendations for safely and responsibly enjoying Chile's attractions ahead of the national holidays.

The Minister of Economy, Development, and Tourism, Álvaro García, stated: “The National Holidays are a time of gathering and celebration of our traditions, but they also represent a great economic opportunity for the country. Nearly two million people will travel around Chile during these holidays, invigorating our regions and strengthening tourism development. Added to this is the positive balance of international tourism, as this year we welcomed more than three million visitors, the highest number in our history. Tourism is a driver of employment and progress, and along with celebrating with joy and responsibility, let us also celebrate this opportunity for growth for Chile.”

The main regions generating overnight trips are the Metropolitan Region (Metropolitan Region), with 52.6% of the total, Biobío (9.6%), and Valparaíso (5.7%). The main generating municipalities are Puente Alto (4.43%), Maipú (4.23%), and Las Condes (3.84%) of the total.

Regarding the preferred destinations for domestic tourists, the Undersecretary of Tourism, Verónica Pardo, specified that “The Metropolitan Region will concentrate more than 850,000 outbound trips during the 18th, followed by Biobío with nearly 156,000 and Valparaíso with more than 92,000. The Valparaíso Region itself will be one of the preferred destinations, with between 365,000 and 441,000 trips, especially to communities such as Algarrobo, El Tabo, and Viña del Mar. These positive indicators are added to the 3.1 million international arrivals recorded in the first half of the year, which confirms the excellent moment that tourism is experiencing and its contribution to the development of all regions of the country.”

Meanwhile, Sernatur's national director, Cristóbal Benítez, stated, "We want to invite everyone traveling through our country to learn about the different options available this year. To do so, they can visit our website chilestuyo.cl, where they'll find all the information about fondas, traditional festivals, and destinations they can enjoy and explore during these Fiestas Patrias (National Holidays)."

The national director of Sernac, Andrés Herrera, emphasized that "during these holidays, consumers have rights that must be respected: to receive accurate and timely information, to have what is offered delivered, and to have safe, quality services. At Sernac, we are inspecting various areas of the market, including accommodations, transportation, and supermarkets, to verify that companies comply with the Consumer Protection Act. Our goal is to provide peace of mind to families and ensure they can enjoy their trips with confidence, knowing that, in the event of any noncompliance, they have our support and access to complaint mechanisms, which they can file directly at sernac.cl."

Reactivation of Santiago's historic center
La Piojera Restaurant was the setting for the pre-celebration of the 2025 Fiestas Patrias (National Holidays), with an event full of Chilean culture, including urban cueca dances with live music and tastings of land and sea cuisine, courtesy of La Piojera.

Mauricio Gajardo, a homeowner, emphasized the importance of revitalizing the capital's historic center and its iconic venues, such as La Piojera and the Central Market, to boost the economy and tourism. "The presence of authorities during this pre-Diececiochera event strengthens the neighborhood, generates trust among citizens, and invites them to enjoy the cuisine and entertainment during the Fiestas Patrias (National Holidays)," Gajardo stated.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Santiago, Mario Desbordes, stated that "This year La Piojera turns 110 years old, and we're celebrating as part of a process of restoring the Mapocho-La Chimba neighborhood, which is already showing more life, more visitors, and more bohemian atmosphere in a positive way. We're happy to inaugurate the Fiestas Patrias here, inviting residents and tourists to enjoy a special La Piojera branch in the Central Market, and to join us, starting on the 17th, at the Gran Fonda de Chile in O'Higgins Park, the largest in the country, where we're ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of people from Santiago and the surrounding regions."

The event, titled "Fiestas Patrias y Turismo" (National Holidays and Tourism), concluded with the authorities enjoying traditional Chilean music and delicious national dishes such as anticuchos, empanadas, choripanes, locos con mayo (a type of "locos con mayo"), and delicious grilled shrimp.

Source: SERNATUR.