“Sailing in Chilean Patagonia: An Investment Opportunity”

Chile’s coastline stretches over 5,000 km and showcases a great variety of landscapes and biological diversity. As such, Patagonia is one of the most attractive areas in Chile for tourism development, primarily due to its biodiversity, fjords, channels, glaciers, and world-renowned geographical landmarks like the Strait of Magellan and Cape Horn.

Despite statistics showing an increasing trend in regional tourism, a number of attractions are not being utilized due to difficulty of access, which is mainly via sea or air. As a result, potential regional tourism opportunities are being lost, thereby limiting the sector’s competitiveness compared to international markets.

Chilean Patagonia presently has a portfolio of 10 cruising tourism investment projects, mostly on a conceptual level. Representatives of six of these 10 projects, along with another eight Patagonian companies will visit Alaska and Vancouver in June 2008 to learn more about the American and Canadian nautical tourism sectors.

Program’s Developments:

• A preliminary study was carried out to generate a strategic direction for Patagonia’s nautical tourism sector.
• Cruising routes throughout Patagonia capable of offering charter cruising were selected
• Two promotional DVDs and a promotional book were produced to show the Program, its objectives, and interviews with the sector’s key stakeholders. An English version is available and includes a map of Patagonia with references to the cruising routes.
• A regional portfolio of 10 projects was compiled. These projects, at different stages of development, include marinas, hotels or lodges with marinas, medium-sized cruises for special-interest tourism, charter yachts and any other business concerned with developing sailing tourism for Chilean Patagonia.
• A Breakfast Seminar: “SAILING IN CHILEAN PATAGONIA: AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY” will be held on June 24, 2008 in Vancouver, to showcase the projects and learn about business opportunities in the Chilean Patagonia.
• A Road Show is planned for September of 2008, where another group of Chilean business will meet with North American potential investors interested in the portfolio’s projects

CORFO-Magallanes, CORFO-Canada and ChilePros would be pleased to see you on June 24. Please join us to learn about 12 investments projects and to explore business opportunities in Chilean Patagonia.

Do not miss this unique occasion to learn about business opportunities in the Chilean Patagonia! You would also have the opportunity to learn about CORFO’s economic incentives for Pre-investments studies and investments.

Additional Information:

Patagonian regional tourism represents one of the economy’s most important income-generating activities. Currently, tourism accounts for close to seven percent of the regional GDP and more than 7,000 jobs, or over ten percent of the workforce. In addition, tourism inflows have grown approximately 19 percent on average over the past five years.

With respect to cruising tourism, the number of medium-sized vessels and the arrival of cruise ships have increased as a result of the internationally recognized regional tourist attractions such as : Torres del Paine National Park, which can be reached by boat from the Ultima Esperanza Fjord and Serrano River; Cape Horn, which has been declared a Global Biosphere Reserve; and Francisco Coloane Marine Park, which includes the Island of Carlos III, designated a Coastal Marine Protected Area due to its great biodiversity and whale sightings.

The world market for nautical tours is 54 billion dollars annually. Chilean Patagonia holds a very small percentage. This makes it a great investment for charters, cruises, hotels, etc. CORFO will be your greatest ally during this process!