Tourism Board (SERNATUR)

Tourism Board (SERNATUR)
Name	Tourism Board (SERNATUR)
Native name	Servicio Nacional de Turismo
Formation	1978
Headquarters	Santiago, Chile
Region served	Chile
Leader title	Director
Parent organization	Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism

Tourism Board (SERNATUR) is the national tourism promotion agency of Chile, created to plan, coordinate and promote tourism activities across the Republic of Chile. It operates within the framework of the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism and interfaces with regional authorities such as the Intendencia Metropolitana de Santiago, municipal governments like the Ilustre Municipalidad de Santiago, and sector partners including the Confederación del Comercio de Chile.

History

SERNATUR was established in 1978 during the administration of Augusto Pinochet as part of a broader series of institutional reforms that included the creation of entities such as the Banco del Estado de Chile and changes to the Fiscal Policy of Chile. Early mandates aligned with national development strategies exemplified by the Corporación de Fomento de la Producción model and later adapted under the democratic presidencies of Patricio Aylwin and Ricardo Lagos. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s SERNATUR expanded programs to support regions like Región de Antofagasta, Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, and Región de Los Lagos, responding to international events including the APEC Chile 2004 forum and global tourism trends influenced by organizations such as the World Tourism Organization.

Organization and Structure

SERNATUR is headquartered in Santiago de Chile and structured with a national director reporting to the Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism. Its internal divisions coordinate with regional offices in capitals including Valparaíso, Concepción, La Serena, and Punta Arenas, and liaise with institutions such as the Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura when coastal development intersects with tourism. Governance instruments reference national legislation like the Ley de Turismo frameworks and interact with public agencies such as the Servicio Nacional de Menores and regional councils like the Consejo Regional. The agency uses advisory boards drawing experts from the Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades, chambers such as the Cámara Nacional de Comercio, and academic partners including the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the Universidad de Chile.

Functions and Responsibilities

SERNATUR’s statutory responsibilities include market promotion of destinations like Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Torres del Paine National Park, Valparaíso, and San Pedro de Atacama; regulation coordination with bodies such as the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero for food safety in hospitality; and the development of tourism statistics alongside the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (Chile). It issues certifications aligned with international standards from entities like the International Organization for Standardization for accommodation and works with transport regulators including Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil and Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado. SERNATUR also administers visitor information centers at heritage sites tied to the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales and supports compliance with environmental instruments such as those overseen by the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente.

Programs and Initiatives

Major initiatives have included destination branding campaigns for Chile, rural tourism promotion in areas like the Valle del Elqui and Chiloé Archipelago, sustainable tourism projects in Parque Nacional Conguillío, and adventure tourism campaigns referencing routes like the Carretera Austral. Collaborative programs have been implemented with entities including the Servicio Nacional de Capacitación y Empleo, the Agencia de Sustentabilidad y Cambio Climático, and international partners such as the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union. Specialized initiatives target niche markets—wine tourism in Colchagua Valley and Maipo Valley, culinary routes connected to Mercado Central de Santiago, and indigenous tourism involving the Mapuche and Rapa Nui communities—often coordinated with the Corporación Nacional Forestal.

Funding and Budget

SERNATUR’s funding derives from allocations within the national budget overseen by the Ministry of Finance (Chile), augmented by project-specific co-financing from regional governments like the Gobierno Regional de Los Ríos, public-private partnerships with organizations such as the Asociación Chilena de Empresas de Turismo, and occasional grants from multilateral lenders including the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo and the World Bank. Annual appropriations are subject to fiscal reviews tied to macroeconomic indicators monitored by the Banco Central de Chile and parliamentary oversight from the Congreso Nacional de Chile.

Partnerships and International Relations

SERNATUR maintains bilateral and multilateral ties with tourism bodies such as the World Tourism Organization, national tourist boards including ProColombia and VisitBritain, and engages in regional cooperation within frameworks like the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation tourism dialogues. Memoranda of understanding have been signed with agencies such as SERNAC-adjacent consumer protection offices and with foreign ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chile) to coordinate inbound visitor facilitation linked to consular services at embassies in capitals like Madrid, Washington, D.C., and Beijing.

Impact and Criticism

SERNATUR is credited with increasing international arrivals to Chile, boosting tourism-related employment in sectors represented by the Confederación de la Producción y del Comercio (CPC), and supporting destination development in regions including Atacama Region and Magallanes Region. Criticisms have focused on environmental impacts in fragile areas such as Patagonia and Rapa Nui National Park, tensions with indigenous communities like the Mapuche over land-use, and debates over resource allocation debated in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile. Other critiques emphasize the need for stronger coordination with agencies such as the Servicio de Impuestos Internos and reforms proposed in white papers circulated by think tanks including the Centro de Estudios Públicos.

Category:Government agencies of Chile Category:Tourism in Chile