International Trade and Sustainable Tourism in Chile

This 2007 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Recursos e Investigación para el Desarrollo Sustenable (RIDES) provides a preliminary assessment of the sustainability of tourism in Chile within the context of trade liberalization. It examines the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the sector, the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the challenges of balancing private investment with local development and environmental conservation.

• Chile's tourism sector has seen rapid growth, with foreign exchange revenue increasing from US$ 407 million in 1989 to US$ 1,396 million in 2004. By 2005, total revenues reached US$ 4.5 billion, with US$ 1.5 billion attributed to foreign tourists.
• Tourism is a significant source of employment in Chile, providing more direct jobs than other major export sectors like mining and salmon farming. In 2004, the sector generated direct employment for approximately 200,000 people.
• There is a significant lack of systematic data regarding the environmental impact of tourism in Chile, specifically concerning water and energy consumption by hotels and the volume of solid waste generated.
• The report identifies 'leakage' or capital flight as a major concern, where tourism revenues are repatriated by foreign investors or captured by large operators outside host communities rather than benefiting local populations.
• A case study in San Pedro de Atacama reveals a disparity between the local population and business ownership; while 71 per cent of the population is indigenous, only 32 per cent of surveyed companies include indigenous proprietors.
• Chile has liberalized most tourism sub-sectors under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), with the exception of Mode 4 (Presence of Natural Persons), which remains a sensitive issue regarding labor markets and immigration.
• The report notes a disconnect between trade negotiators and tourism stakeholders, stating that there is virtually no relationship between those negotiating trade deals and the private stakeholders in the tourism sector.
• The Chilean government uses a system of concessions to fund the management of protected wildlife areas, but the report finds these are often hindered by bureaucratic delays and a lack of specific sustainable tourism objectives in some initiatives.
• Rural tourism is highlighted as a potential tool for poverty alleviation, with some participating families generating income equivalent to 21 to 300 per cent of the average national rural income.

APA

Blanco, H., Ruiz-Dana, A., Marín, A., Alonso, V., Silva, C. P., & Lucidi, S. (2007). International Trade and Sustainable Tourism in Chile. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/trade_tourism_chile.pdf

Chicago

Blanco, Hernán, Alejandra Ruiz-Dana, Andrés Marín, Victoria Alonso, Carmen Paz Silva, and Stefano Lucidi. International Trade and Sustainable Tourism in Chile. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2007. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/trade_tourism_chile.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Blanco |first1=Hernán |last2=Ruiz-Dana |first2=Alejandra |last3=Marín |first3=Andrés |last4=Alonso |first4=Victoria |last5=Silva |first5=Carmen Paz |last6=Lucidi |first6=Stefano |title=International Trade and Sustainable Tourism in Chile |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2007 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/trade_tourism_chile.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{blanco2007international, author = {Blanco, Hernán and Ruiz-Dana, Alejandra and Marín, Andrés and Alonso, Victoria and Silva, Carmen Paz and Lucidi, Stefano}, title = {{International Trade and Sustainable Tourism in Chile}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2007}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/trade_tourism_chile.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }