From January to August 2026, 42,914 Australian tourists arrived in Chile, 82.8% more than in the same period of 2025 (23,474). That is the strongest growth among countries that send more than 10,000 tourists a year, and in just eight months Australia is already 2,367 arrivals short of matching all of 2025. It climbed from 17th to 8th place among the nationalities that visit Chile most, ahead of Uruguay, France and Germany, according to the foreign tourist arrivals data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism (Subturismo) and Sernatur, compiled from Investigations Police records.
*Updated on November 4, 2026, with the October 2026 release (data through August 2026).* The figures cover tourists of Australian nationality and exclude arrivals through seaports. Figures from 2020 onwards are preliminary.
Australian tourists in Chile by year
| Year | Australian tourists | % of all tourists |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 36,542 | 1.3% |
| 2012 | 43,341 | 1.2% |
| 2016 | 50,968 | 0.9% |
| 2017 | 51,978 | 0.8% |
| 2018 | 52,653 | 0.9% |
| 2019 | 51,640 | 1.1% |
| 2020 | 13,750 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | 146 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 8,391 | 0.4% |
| 2023 | 26,625 | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 35,884 | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 45,281 | 0.8% |
| 2026 (January to August) | 42,914 | 1.3% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Cuadro por Nacionalidad" sheet. Percentages: Viajando Chile calculation. The annual record for Australian tourists is still 2018, with 52,653, but 2026 is 9,739 arrivals away from beating it with four months to go. Between September and December 2025, 21,807 Australians arrived: if 2026 merely repeated that figure, the year would close at around 64,700, 23% above the all-time high. This is our own projection, not an official figure.
The slump of 2020 and 2021, with only 146 Australian tourists in all of 2021, reflects the border closure. The recovery was slow: in 2024 arrivals were still 31% below 2019. The series for every country is in foreign tourist arrivals in Chile by year.
Australian tourists in Chile in 2026, month by month
| Month | 2026 | 2025 | Change | Previous record for that month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7,845 | 4,848 | +61.8% | 6,713 (2019) |
| February | 6,160 | 3,867 | +59.3% | 5,147 (2016) |
| March | 6,658 | 3,653 | +82.3% | 4,870 (2019) |
| April | 5,621 | 3,101 | +81.3% | 4,498 (2019) |
| May | 4,338 | 2,353 | +84.4% | 3,613 (2014) |
| June | 4,073 | 1,442 | +182.5% | 3,431 (2014) |
| July | 4,186 | 1,929 | +117.0% | 3,651 (2014) |
| August | 4,033 | 2,281 | +76.8% | 3,472 (2017) |
| January to August | 42,914 | 23,474 | +82.8% | 32,252 (2019) |
Source: Subturismo and Sernatur. Changes and comparison with the 2008-2025 series: Viajando Chile calculation. All eight months of 2026 are the best ever recorded for that month, and January 2026, with 7,845 arrivals, is the month with the most Australian tourists since records began. The sharpest jump came in June (+182.5%), in the middle of the southern winter, which fits the interest in snow described by the Undersecretariat of Tourism (see below).
Australians' high season is summer: in 2025, October, November and December added up to 18,194 arrivals, 40% of the year. The comparison with other markets is in the months with the most foreign tourists in Chile.
Why Australian tourists in Chile are growing
| Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | Chile starts requiring an electronic visa from Australians, on a reciprocity basis | El País |
| Late 2024 | Direct flights between Australia and Chile rise from 7 to 11 a week | El País |
| September 2025 | Australians no longer need a visa to enter Chile as tourists | Ministry of Economy |
| April 2026 | Santiago-Sydney enters Chile's top 10 air routes, with 25,777 passengers in the month | La Tercera, with JAC data |
| August 11-13, 2026 | Sernatur holds its first in-person roadshow in Australia since 2019, in Melbourne and Sydney, with 160 travel agents | Ministry of Economy |
| August 2026 | Australia and China become priority promotion markets for 2027 | El País |
| September 2026 | SKY signs an interline agreement with Qantas, which flies Sydney-Santiago four times a week | Aviacionline |
- May 2020Chile starts requiring an electronic visa from Australians, on a reciprocity basis
- Late 2024Direct flights between Australia and Chile rise from 7 to 11 a week
- September 2025Australians no longer need a visa to enter Chile as tourists
- April 2026Santiago-Sydney enters Chile's top 10 air routes, with 25,777 passengers in the month
- August 11-13, 2026Sernatur holds its first in-person roadshow in Australia since 2019, in Melbourne and Sydney, with 160 travel agents
- August 2026Australia and China become priority promotion markets for 2027
- September 2026SKY signs an interline agreement with Qantas, which flies Sydney-Santiago four times a week
The official explanation is the visa. Chile's Undersecretary of Tourism, María Paz Lagos, attributed the rise "first of all" to the fact that since September 2025 Australians enter without a visa, she told La Tercera. Chile was the only Latin American country requiring one, and also the only gateway in the region with direct flights from Australia, according to El País. Connectivity did the rest: LATAM flies to Sydney seven to ten times a week and also links Santiago with Melbourne, and Qantas adds its four weekly frequencies.
One caveat: some of those passengers use Santiago as a stopover to other South American countries. The Undersecretariat itself says the challenge is getting them to stay longer and visit more regions. The busiest routes in the country are in the air routes with the most passengers in Chile.
Where Australian tourists enter Chile
| Entry point | 2026 (January to August) | % 2026 | 2025 (full year) | % 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (Santiago) | 37,995 | 88.5% | 39,288 | 86.8% |
| Hito Cajón (San Pedro de Atacama) | 1,074 | 2.5% | 1,575 | 3.5% |
| Río Don Guillermo (Cerro Castillo, Magallanes) | 998 | 2.3% | 1,302 | 2.9% |
| Laurita Casas Viejas (Puerto Natales) | 551 | 1.3% | 720 | 1.6% |
| Cristo Redentor system (Los Libertadores) | 414 | 1.0% | 491 | 1.1% |
| Cardenal Antonio Samoré (Osorno) | 335 | 0.8% | 285 | 0.6% |
| Punta Arenas Airport | 225 | 0.5% | 217 | 0.5% |
Source: Subturismo and Sernatur, "Consulta desagregada" sheet (Australian nationality). Viajando Chile calculation. Almost nine in ten Australian tourists fly into Santiago. The rest cross overland from Argentina or Bolivia: through Hito Cajón, the gateway to San Pedro de Atacama, and through the Magallanes crossings that lead to Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. By region, in 2026 Magallanes received 2,194 Australians (5.1%) and Antofagasta 1,487 (3.5%).
Does your hotel, agency or ski resort welcome long-haul travelers? Reach them while they plan their trip, with Viajando Chile.
See advertising optionsAustralia compared with other growing markets in 2026
| Nationality | January-August 2026 | January-August 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 42,914 | 23,474 | +82.8% |
| Costa Rica | 18,592 | 10,440 | +78.1% |
| China | 30,408 | 24,499 | +24.1% |
| Paraguay | 16,735 | 14,558 | +15.0% |
| United States | 163,265 | 148,388 | +10.0% |
| Canada | 28,617 | 26,169 | +9.4% |
| Netherlands | 12,920 | 11,825 | +9.3% |
| England | 37,847 | 34,781 | +8.8% |
| Argentina | 1,226,678 | 2,077,437 | -41.0% |
| All foreign tourists | 3,308,873 | 4,090,538 | -19.1% |
Source: Subturismo and Sernatur, foreign tourist arrivals. Includes countries with more than 10,000 arrivals between January and August 2025. Changes: Viajando Chile calculation. While total tourist arrivals fall 19.1% because of the collapse of the Argentine market, Australia is the fastest-growing market. Oceania as a whole rose 71.5% (50,662 arrivals) and New Zealand, the region's other big source, grew 28.2% (7,636). The full ranking is in foreign tourists in Chile by country.
What Australian tourists look for in Chile
According to the Undersecretariat of Tourism, quoted by El País, 94% of Australians travel to Chile for personal reasons and 60% specifically on vacation. A quarter are over 60, almost twice the average among visitors. They stay 20% more nights than average, around 15, and spend 70% more per trip, over US$100 a day. Sernatur does not report Australia separately in its spending tables; the available comparison is in how much foreign tourists spend in Chile.
- Snow: Undersecretary Lagos pointed to the million Australians who travel abroad each year looking for a "snow experience". The guide is in when is the snow season in Chile.
- Patagonia: Torres del Paine and the Magallanes crossings account for 5% of entries. See the Torres del Paine entrance fee and what to see in Chilean Patagonia.
- Atacama Desert: Hito Cajón is the second entry point. See Valle de la Luna.
Frequently asked questions
How many Australian tourists visit Chile each year?
In 2025, 45,281 arrived, 0.8% of all foreign tourists. Between January and August 2026, 42,914 arrived, 82.8% more than a year earlier. The annual record is 2018, with 52,653.
Do Australians need a visa to travel to Chile?
No. Since September 2025, Australian citizens can enter Chile as tourists without a visa, according to Chile's Ministry of Economy. Before that, from May 2020, Chile required an electronic visa.
Are there direct flights between Australia and Chile?
Yes. LATAM flies Santiago-Sydney seven to ten times a week and also serves Melbourne; Qantas flies Sydney-Santiago four times a week. It is about 11,300 kilometers and close to 15 hours of flying, according to La Tercera.
Which month had the most Australian tourists in Chile?
January 2026, with 7,845 arrivals, according to the 2008-2026 series from Subturismo and Sernatur.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *Australian tourists in Chile 2026: 42,914 arrivals through August, up 82.8% and heading for an all-time record*. With data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Available at: https://viajandochile.com/en/news/australian-tourists-in-chile-statistics
