Chile has unveiled a new tourism performance index designed to provide quarterly insights into the country’s travel industry, giving policymakers and businesses a more accurate picture of the sector’s economic impact.
The new National Tourism Activity Index (INATUR) was introduced on July 2, 2026 by Chile’s Undersecretariat of Tourism during the tourism intelligence seminar Tourism: The Best Investment for Chile’s Development. Developed in line with international statistical standards and reviewed by Chile’s Central Bank, the index will provide quarterly monitoring of tourism activity for the first time.
The initiative is paired with Chile’s new Direct Tourism GDP (PIBTd) measurement, creating a comprehensive system that combines annual data on tourism’s contribution to the economy with regular quarterly performance updates.
Officials say the new tools will strengthen investment planning, public policy and business decision-making by providing timely, evidence-based data comparable with other sectors of the Chilean economy.
Undersecretary of Tourism María Paz Lagos said the new indicators represent “a major step forward” for the country’s tourism sector.
“We want tourism to be recognized as part of the real economy because behind every trip there are businesses, jobs, investment and opportunities for thousands of people,” she said. “These new tools will allow us to better measure tourism’s contribution, monitor its performance and make decisions based on evidence.”
National Tourism Director Cristóbal Benítez said the new index will help both government agencies and private businesses anticipate market trends and better evaluate tourism initiatives. Industry leaders said access to reliable, up-to-date tourism intelligence will improve competitiveness and encourage smarter investment decisions.
“A quarterly indicator will strengthen tourism planning, destination promotion and investment, contributing to more efficient and sustainable growth across Chile,” Benítez declared during the seminar.
According to government estimates, direct tourism contributed 2.8% of Chile’s GDP in 2025, equivalent to approximately US$10.1 billion. Total domestic tourism spending accounted for 5.4% of national GDP, while the industry supported 7.6% of total employment, representing more than 723,000 jobs.
Chile’s National Tourism Service (Sernatur) pointed that Chile welcomed about 5.8 million international visitors in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and marking one of the strongest years on record. Argentina remained Chile’s largest inbound market, followed by Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and the United States. Long-haul arrivals from Europe also continued to recover, helped by expanded airline connectivity and growing demand for nature, adventure and wine tourism.
For 2026, Chile expects to receive over 6 million international visitors, driven by continued growth from neighboring South American markets and increased interest from North America and Europe.
