Embratur was part of the delegation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on an official visit to the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, this Monday (5). In Santiago, the president of the Agency, Marcelo Freixo, was one of the signatories of a memorandum of cooperation for the development of actions that contribute to the increase of tourism between both countries. In addition to being part of the delegation, Freixo participated in a panel at the Chile-Brazil Business Forum, promoted by Apex-Brasil.
At a press conference at La Moneda Palace, the seat of the Chilean Executive Branch, President Lula spoke about the resumption of the integration process in South America and pointed out the need to promote tourism on the continent. “South American integration is a reality that makes a difference in people’s lives. Integration is connection,” said the president.
“The increase in the number of flights allowed the flow of tourists between our countries to almost double last year. With the tourism work plan that we signed today, Chile has everything it needs to consolidate itself as one of the most important and sought-after destinations for Brazilians. My government is committed to connecting all of South America through five major daily routes, two of which include Chile. Brazil can be Chile’s gateway to the African continent and Chile can be Brazil’s gateway to Asia,” added President Lula.
The memorandum of cooperation in international tourism, signed by Embratur and Fundação Imagem de Chile (Marca Chile) on Monday, will promote tourist destinations between the two countries and also in other markets.
For Marcelo Freixo, this is a great opportunity to exchange information and develop strategies that will impact the increase in tourist arrivals at the airports of both countries. “Tourism was one of the main topics mentioned by the presidents. When we talk about an increase in the number of tourists entering the country, we are talking about countries that are increasingly closer. Now Brazil and Chile are walking together in democracy, in the generation of jobs and income, and in the possibility of bringing our cultures closer together,” said the president of Embratur.
The signatories of the memorandum also include Brazil's Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, and Chile's Undersecretary of Tourism, Verónica Pardo.
Through this cooperation, the entities will share information and best practices in areas such as management, data intelligence, innovation, new technologies, international marketing, promotion of the Visit South America brand, among others. Brazil and Chile will also strengthen sustainable tourism, train professionals to promote the image of both countries, and support the Ibero-American Council of Country Brands (CIMAP).
The Imagen de Chile Foundation is responsible for promoting the image of the Chilean nation in the world, increasing its recognition, reputation and preference in the international market.
New connection
President Lula and Marcelo Freixo met on Monday afternoon with the CEO of Latam, Roberto Alvo. The airline announced last Thursday (1) a new flight between Brazil and Chile. The direct flight that will connect Fortaleza and Santiago will have capacity for 174 passengers and will begin operating on November 30 of this year.
The airline is responsible for 70% of the volume of people travelling by air between the two countries. In addition to Fortaleza, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Florianópolis and Porto Alegre have direct flights to Santiago, operated by Latam.
Increasing flights connecting Brazil with the rest of the world is one of Embratur's strategies to reach the international market. "We want the largest number of international tourists in Brazil, because that means generating jobs and income for the population," Freixo said.
Chile-Brazil Business Forum
The Chile-Brazil Business Forum brought together more than 300 authorities and businessmen from both countries to identify business, partnership and investment opportunities to continue strengthening the good relations that exist between the two countries. Currently, Brazil is Chile's third largest supplier, with an 11% share of the Chilean market. Among South American countries, Chile is the second largest investor in Brazil. Embratur President Marcelo Freixo participated in the panel on Regional Integration.
Chilean tourist arrivals to Brazil
Chile is the third country that sends the most tourists to Brazil. In the first half of 2024 alone, 332,728 Chilean travelers arrived in the country, 31.68% more than in the same period last year (227,317). GlobalData forecasts that 455,917 Chileans will enter Brazil by the end of this year.
The historical record of Chilean tourists entering Brazil was recorded in 2023, when 458,576 travelers visited Brazilian destinations. The figure is 14.58% higher than the previous record, recorded in 2019 (391,689).
Source: EMBRATUR.