Chilean president acknowledges role of tourism in international development

Across the world, countless countries have been able to develop their economies thanks to tourism, with the money brought in by international visitors providing a vital source of income that really can transform societies and change the lives of entire populations of people.

As recognition of the importance continues to grow, heads of state from several nations have been singing the industries praises in recent times, with the Chilean President Michelle Bachelet being the latest to do so.

Indeed, Bachelet this week accepted the United Nations World Trade Organisation's open letter - which has been put forward in collaboration with the World Travel and Tourism Council - calling on heads of state to recognise the vital role that tourism plays, and to pledge greater support to helping the sector grow.

In particular, the letter calls upon governments to give the industry higher priority in national policies in order to enable it to flourish further, with the aim of using it to deliver sustainable and organic growth, on both an economic and a social level.

So, next time you book a holiday, you can be confident that as well as providing yourself with some great experiences, you could also be doing your bit to help drive development around the world.

It's likely that Chile will now be going to greater lengths to harness the positive benefits of the travel sector, which is why you may want to consider visiting the South American country.

It's main tourist destinations are the capital, Santiago de Chile, which is home to the Presidential Palace - where the first ever democratically elected socialist President, Salvador Allende, was killed in a coup in 1973 - and the stunning landscapes of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, which are located at the southern tip of the South American continent.

In the north, meanwhile, is the popular surfing town of Arica, while San Pedro de Atacama is the gateway to the incredible Atacama Desert.

Published 01 Sep 2014

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