During the Chilean national holidays (September 18 and 19), a large influx of tourists from that country was expected, however only a quarter arrived, said the president of the Regional Chamber of Tourism (Caretur) of Tacna, Wilfredo Espinoza Chávez.
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“There has been little influx, people have been coming in, but it is not what we expected,” said the businessman. He recalled that before the COVID-19 pandemic, about 20,000 people came per day and now barely 4,000 or 5,000 per day arrive, even on holidays, “which is worrying.”
Devaluation of the Chilean peso
He explained that Chile is facing various problems such as the devaluation of the peso against the dollar and the decrease in demand for copper by China, which is affecting the Chilean economy and impacting the number of travelers to the Heroic City.
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He indicated that they will seek a meeting with the new regional director of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Christian Riveros Arteaga, so that the public and private sectors can jointly develop a strategic work plan for the remainder of the year.
They will attract national tourists
The goal is to promote Tacna’s tourist services outside the city, mainly in the Peruvian regions. “We have a national public and they are the ones who are keeping us going. We are not going to neglect the Chileans, but we have to expand our offer,” he said.
In addition, cultural identity will be strengthened through competitions of crafts, dances and traditional costumes, said the representative of Caretur.
