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WITH Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, the two major gateways into Australia and carriers including LATAM Airlines Group and Argentina Aerolineas flying three direct flights a week and soon four, this Hispanic country has become 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 first South American Showcase, at Sydney’s Ivy ballroom.
Jointly hosted by the tourism offices of Chile, Argentina and Colombia, and 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 Thursday 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 it 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 (L to R) Jorge Montero, executive representative for Australia, ProExport Colombia; Carolina Valenzuela, Long Haul market manager for Turismo Chile and Mariano Vila, market coordinator, Asia Pacific and Middle East, for Argentina’s tourism promotion agency, INPROTUR. |