Chile is a beautiful destination in South America that has opened its airport to tourists this November 23, 2020. The destination has created a plan to travel safely to and from Chile. Chile’s tourism plan was worked on by several organizations. We accessed the ‘Chile.travel’ website to obtain our information. Their website consisted of their step by step plan, rules and regulations. They also mention the government agencies they are constantly developing their COVID-19 plan with. Here are the following organizations that Chile has worked with:
- Servicio National de Tourismo. (National Tourism Service)
- Ministerio de Economia Fomento y Turismo. (Ministry of Economy, Promotion and Tourism)
- Subsecreteria de Tourismo (Co-secretary of Tourism)
COVID-19 Strategy:
Here are the requirements for foreigners and non-residents prior to their visit to Chile:
- Negative PCR test performed 72 hours before travelling. In flights with intermediate stops, this is considered from the last boarding.
- Fill out the “Traveler’s Sworn Statement” electronically and at most 48 hours before boarding at www.c19.cl
- Health insurance that covers benefits associated with COVID-19 during your stay, with a minimum coverage of USD$30,000
Here are the requirements for foreigners and non-residents once landed in Chile:
- Individuals who enter the country will undergo “Migration and Health Control”. Migration Control: The Civil Police (PDI) will regulate travel documents regardless of the current pandemic . Health Control: If “Traveler’s Sworn Statement” is not presented or cannot be completed electronically, a mandatory physical format is available. This is part of their regulations under their current Health Alert.
Here are the requirements for both residents and non-residents during their stay in times of the pandemic:
- Wearing face masks is mandatory in urban areas, public spaces and enclosed areas.
- Physical distancing protocols swarm the areas as people are encouraged to follow layouts.
- Frequent hand washing is a must, along-side the use of hand sanitizers.
- Disinfecting techniques are to be followed by every establishment in Chile.
- Night curfew from 12:00 am to 5:00 a.m. in some areas, while other curfews are applied from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am.
The Tourism Undersecretariat and National Tourism Service (SENATUR) launched a national tourism plan which consists of helping small and medium tourism businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic. They have planned to subsidize a total of 9 billion US dollars, to help and reactivate tourism in Chile (Chile Reports, 2020). This plan includes health protocols and requirements that businesses need to follow in order to operate.
Chile is trying to open its parks one step at a time in order to follow all the precautions to reduce the spread of the virus. The agriculture minister Antonio Walker announced that if an increase in cases is reported or if health measures are not being followed, these areas could once again be closed to safeguard the health of park rangers, visitors and those who live within the protected areas (Chile Reports, 2020). The minister wants to take all the precautions including contactless payments, online reservations and social distance even though it is an open space.
References
Chile Reports. (2020). Chile’s Economy Ministry launches National Tourism Plan including health and hygiene protocols, subsidies, and funding for promotion. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://chilereports.cl/en/news/2020/06/02/chile-s-economy-ministry-launches-national-tourism-plan-including-health-and-hygiene-protocols-subsidies-and-funding-for-promotion
Chile Reports. (2020). Minister Walker announces the gradual reopening of Chile’s national parks. (2020). Retrieved December 03, 2020, from https://chilereports.cl/en/news/2020/08/05/minister-walker-announces-the-gradual-reopening-of-chile-s-national-parks
Chile travel. (2020, November 23). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://chile.travel/en/coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR0YUXhgu7WHmWVS1vUjYP9ik9vBNiFzXVyo19iwkCMEMx4uEHIxxsbGPYw