By
Rebecca Gibson |
Corporación de Puertos del Conosur expects Chile to welcome 35% more cruise calls and 33% more passengers and crew in 2015-2016, compared to 2014.
To date, Chile’s ports are scheduled to handle 220 calls and more than 400,000 visitors between October and April, an increase from the 163 calls and 302,000 visitors it welcomed during the 2014-2015 season.
Punta Arenas will lead in visitor numbers and expects to handle more than 115,000 passengers and crew, followed by Puerto Montt with about 102,000, and Valparaíso with more than 91,000.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun will also return to South America and make multiple calls at several ports in Chile, which is expected to bring a significant number of additional tourists.
Numbers are expected to rise further when the new Passenger Terminal Valparaiso opens in time for the 2016-2017 season.
Conosur president Ignacio Covavich said the organisation will continue to promote Chile as a cruise destination and improve the coordination between the ports and destinations. Another priority is encouraging the government to ease cabotage restrictions to enable international cruise operators to offer seven-day itineraries.