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WITH increasing capacity from Australia to Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America is becoming one of the hottest holiday and MICE destinations for Australian travellers. There was plenty of evidence on Monday evening when more than 200 travel agents and wholesalers attended the South American Showcase, at Sydney’s Ivy ballroom. Jointly hosted by the tourism offices of Chile, Argentina and Colombia, as well as over 30 suppliers from the three countries, the event included presentations from the three nations, workshop sessions and an evening cocktail function at which performers presented traditional South American dances. Tonight the three-nation group is in Melbourne, followed on Thu by a final event in Brisbane. As well as a vast range of cultural, luxury and adventure activities for visitors, Chile, Argentina and Colombia are all actively promoting opportunities to the MICE market, offering not only world-class venues and activities for delegates but extensive pre and post event touring opportunities for delegates and their partners. With Columbia back on the world tourism map and a favourable WTO 2009 report, this alluring ‘extreme tourism’ destination, once known for its mafia connections and paramilitary uprisings, now has the catchy tourism catchphrase – “The only risk is wanting to stay”. Jorge Montero, executive representative for Australia, ProExport Colombia said, “With improved security and our economy booming together with our ICCA ranking of 34th in the world, we are welcoming an increasing amount of Australian incentive groups.” Pictured from left are: Jorge Montero, ProExport Colombia; Carolina Valenzuela, Turismo Chile and Mariano Vila, Argentina’s tourism promotion agency, INPROTUR. |
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Heather Jeffery, event coordinator, with Praful Albuquerque, Sales and Marketing Manager, Natural Focus Safaris |
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South American dancers at the event |
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