According to La Tercera, the Federation of Tourism Businesses of Chile (Fedetur) criticized the government because the proposed 2027 budget leaves funding for international tourism promotion unchanged. The industry group maintains that the government had publicly committed to restoring it.
“This is the lowest amount in the last decade, and Chile is by far the country in the region that allocates the fewest resources to this area,” Fedetur said. The allocation still reflects a 30% cut applied to this year's budget, which the group says the government had promised to reverse.
The federation's figures show a steady decline. Before 2019, Chile allocated about US$12 million to promoting itself abroad. Today, that figure is around US$7 million, roughly 40% less.
The comparison with neighboring countries is starker. According to Fedetur, Brazil invested about US$50 million last year, while Peru and Colombia allocated around US$45 million each. In other words, for every dollar Chile spends to attract tourists, Brazil spends about seven.
Fedetur brings together industry associations such as the Chilean Association of Tourism Businesses (Achet), Hoteleros de Chile, the Chilean Gastronomy Association (Achiga) and the Chilean Airline Association (Achila). That means hotels, restaurants, agencies and airlines that depend on visitor numbers.
The group warned of an impact on employment and competitiveness. “We have the qualities to attract more visitors, but we need to make our offerings known,” it said. Without sustained promotion, it added, the country loses revenue and jobs, especially in the regions.
The criticism clashes with the government's own targets. The government set out to restore foreign tourist numbers to their 2019 level and increase investment in key international markets. Through this, it sought to create 100 thousand jobs and add one percentage point to GDP (gross domestic product, the value of everything the country produces), reaching 4% by the end of its term.
Undersecretary of Tourism María Paz Lagos responded that the government recognizes “the strategic role of tourism” and is working “actively in the discussion of the 2027 budget to make progress toward increasing the resources allocated to international promotion.”
Lagos asked people to await the outcome of the legislative process. “We are in the midst of the budget process; this is only just beginning: there are stages still to come, and what matters will be the final outcome,” she said. The official did not specify an amount or a deadline for the possible increase.
Fedetur requested a meeting with the Minister of Economy and Undersecretary Lagos. It also requested a hearing with the lawmakers who will review the Economy allocation, where it will be decided whether tourism promotion receives more funding before the budget law is approved.
