Chile Tourism Statistics

Chile stretches from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, giving travelers one of South America’s widest ranges of landscapes in a single country. Its tourism appeal includes desert skies, Pacific coast cities, wine valleys, Andean routes, protected natural areas, and long-distance adventure travel.

Chile received 5.24 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, rising above the 2019 pre-pandemic benchmark of 4.52 million arrivals.

• International arrivals to Chile climbed from 3.67 million in 2014 to 6.45 million in 2017, before easing to 5.72 million in 2018.
• The 2019 total of 4.52 million international tourist arrivals remains the main pre-pandemic benchmark for Chile’s inbound recovery.
• Pandemic-era travel disruption reduced Chile’s arrivals to 1.12 million in 2020 and 190 thousand in 2021.
• Chile’s recovery lifted international tourist arrivals to 2.03 million in 2022, 3.73 million in 2023, and 5.24 million in 2024.
• Across 2014 to 2024, Chile averaged about 3.89 million international tourist arrivals per year.

Note: Figures refer to international tourist arrivals to Chile. Percentages and calculated changes in this article are based on the full source values, while values in tables and graphs are standardized for readability. The average is calculated from the annual values shown for 2014 to 2024.

How many tourists visited Chile in 2024?

About 5.24 million international tourists arrived in Chile in 2024, placing inbound tourism above its 2019 level.

• The 2024 arrival total for Chile was about 721 thousand higher than the 4.52 million international tourist arrivals recorded in 2019.
• Compared with 2023, Chile welcomed about 1.51 million more international tourist arrivals in 2024.
• International tourist arrivals to Chile increased by 40.4% in 2024 compared with 2023.

How many tourists visited Chile in 2023?

Chile received 3.73 million international tourist arrivals in 2023, continuing the rebound from the pandemic lows.

• The 2023 total for Chile was 83.7% higher than 2022, when arrivals reached 2.03 million.
• International tourist arrivals to Chile in 2023 recovered to 82.6% of the 2019 pre-pandemic level.
• Chile’s 2023 recovery set up a stronger 2024, when arrivals passed the 2019 benchmark.

Chile recorded 5.24 million international visitors and 61.02 million domestic visitors in 2024.

• International visitors to Chile increased from 4.52 million in 2019 to 5.24 million in 2024.
• Domestic visitors in Chile increased from 54.69 million in 2019 to 61.02 million in 2024.
• International visitor numbers fell to 190 thousand in 2021, before recovering to 3.73 million in 2023 and 5.24 million in 2024.
• Domestic visitor numbers recovered to 60.12 million in 2022, then reached 60.54 million in 2023 and 61.02 million in 2024.

Note: “International visitors” refers to international tourist arrivals to Chile. “Domestic visitors” refers to domestic tourist trips made by residents within Chile.

International tourists in Chile spent an average of US$595.2 per trip in 2024, based on the official average total individual spend.

• Average international tourist spending in Chile was US$539.7 per trip in 2019, before falling to US$397.9 in 2020.
• The average trip spend recovered to US$609.2 in 2022 and US$636.6 in 2023.
• Average international tourist spending in Chile eased to US$595.2 per trip in 2024, while total inbound receipts still rose because arrivals increased strongly.

Note: “Trip Spend” means average total individual spend by international tourists in Chile.

The United States was one of Chile’s leading long-haul source markets in 2024, with about 251.6 thousand tourist arrivals.

• The United States ranked as Chile’s fifth-largest inbound source market in 2024, representing about 5% of foreign tourist arrivals.
• Nature and unique landscapes were the leading stated motivation for United States travelers to Chile in the 2025 market report, at 38%.
• Adventure and outdoor activities accounted for 25% of United States traveler motivation toward Chile.
• Culture, history, and Indigenous peoples accounted for 12%, while wine and local gastronomy also accounted for 12%.
• United States travelers to Chile were described as high-value long-stay visitors, with an average stay of about 12.6 days in the market profile.

Note: The graph summarizes the United States market profile for travel to Chile, not all international visitors to Chile.

Chile ranked in the top 5 among South America’s major international tourism destinations in 2024, with 5.24 million international tourist arrivals.

• Brazil led the South American ranking shown in Chile’s annual tourism report with 6.77 million international tourist arrivals in 2024.
• Argentina recorded 6.6 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, while Colombia recorded 6.59 million.
• Chile received 5.24 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, ahead of Uruguay and Peru in the same regional ranking.
• Chile recorded the strongest annual growth rate among the listed South American markets in 2024, with arrivals up 40.4% from 2023.

Note: The graph compares selected South American destinations by international tourist arrivals in 2024.

Santiago was the most widely visited destination among international air tourists in Chile in 2023, with 77% reporting a visit.

• Santiago reached 77% of international air tourists in Chile in 2023, reflecting the capital’s role as the country’s main urban gateway.
• San Pedro de Atacama reached 9.5% of international air tourists in Chile in 2023, showing the strength of desert travel in the north.
• Viña del Mar–Concón reached 7.4% of international air tourists in Chile in 2023, making it one of the leading coastal destination areas.
• Valparaíso reached 6.7% of international air tourists in Chile in 2023, while Torres del Paine National Park reached 6.6%.
• The Lake Llanquihue and Todos los Santos area, Araucanía Lacustre, and Patagonia Costa each reached at least 3.1% of international air tourists in Chile in 2023.

Note: The graph shows the share of international tourists entering Chile by air who reported visiting each destination in 2023.

Chile’s tourism export receipts totaled US$3.62 billion in 2024, while tourism-characteristic activities supported 637,520 jobs.

• Tourism export receipts represented 3.3% of Chile’s total exports of goods and services in 2024.
• Employment in Chile’s tourism-characteristic activities reached 637.52 thousand people in 2024.
• Tourism-characteristic activities accounted for 6.9% of national employment in Chile in 2024.
• Chile’s accommodation and food-service branch supported 411.28 thousand tourism-characteristic jobs in 2024.
• Businesses classified under tourism-characteristic activities reached 216,919 in Chile in the commercial period 2024, representing 13.7% of companies in the country.

Note: Employment refers to activities characteristic of tourism in Chile in 2024. Tourism businesses refer to the commercial period 2024.

Argentina was the leading outbound destination for Chileans in 2024, with 1.58 million recorded exits to that destination.

• Argentina received 1.58 million outbound exits by Chileans in 2024, making it the leading destination in the official destination table.
• Peru received 1.36 million outbound exits by Chileans in 2024.
• Brazil received 693.6 thousand outbound exits by Chileans in 2024.
• The United States received 361.5 thousand outbound exits by Chileans in 2024.
• Spain received 207.9 thousand outbound exits by Chileans in 2024.

Note: The graph shows outbound exits by Chileans by destination country in 2024.

Residents of Chile generated US$3.66 billion in total outbound tourism outflows in 2024.

• Resident tourists from Chile spent US$2.98 billion abroad in 2024.
• Same-day outbound excursionists from Chile accounted for US$30.4 million in 2024.
• International passenger transport for outbound tourism from Chile accounted for US$653 million in 2024.
• Resident tourists from Chile spent an average of US$809.5 per trip abroad in 2024.
• Total outbound tourism outflows from Chile were 3.9% lower in 2024 than in 2023.