Chile's tourism sector would reach about 733,000 workers in the December-February quarter, 14,000 more than last summer, according to the projection the government presented on Thursday 12 November 2026 under the slogan "Turismo Despega" ("Tourism takes off"). At the same event, President José Antonio Kast reaffirmed the pledge to double the money used to promote Chile abroad, a budget line that would exceed 13 billion pesos and still needs Congress approval, the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism reported.
For travellers the news has two sides: more staff in hotels, restaurants, transport and agencies during high season, and a state that wants to bring more foreign visitors outside the summer months. Here are the figures, what is still pending and how it compares with what we reported earlier this month.
Chile tourism jobs: the figures for summer 2026-2027
View the data as a table
| Tourism jobs, Dec-Feb | 733,000 |
| More jobs than last summer | +14,000 |
| Passengers at Santiago airport, Dec-Feb | 7.49 M |
| Tourism share of national employment | 7.3% |
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Projected tourism jobs, Dec 2026-Feb 2027 | About 733,000 people | Ministry of Economy |
| Change vs. previous summer | +14,000 jobs | Ministry of Economy |
| Tourism jobs, July-September 2026 | About 680,000 people (7.3% of national employment) | INE, presented by the government |
| Annual growth in tourism jobs | +4.4% | INE, presented by the government |
| Women working in tourism | 354,000 (52.1% of the total; +14% in 12 months) | Ministry of Economy |
| Projected passengers at Santiago airport, Dec-Feb | 7,491,000 (+2.3%) | Ministry of Economy |
The July-September figure is the one we analysed in our story on third-quarter tourism jobs: tourism grew while national unemployment rose to 9.8%, its highest level since 2021, according to INE data cited by Emol. What is new is the high-season projection and the promotion announcement.
One detail: a quote from minister Daniel Mas in the official release says "we expect to reach 680,000 jobs in the tourism sector, 14,000 more than last season", while the rest of the text speaks of 733,000 for the summer. We use 733,000 as the seasonal projection because the release presents it as such and Emol and BioBioChile report the same figure.
Where tourism jobs are growing in Chile
Tourism employment rose in 10 of Chile's 16 regions in the latest rolling quarter, with double-digit increases in O'Higgins, Biobío, Magallanes, Antofagasta and Tarapacá. In Magallanes, Antofagasta and Tarapacá these activities weigh more than the 7.3% national average in regional employment.
| Region | What the government reported | What it means for travellers |
|---|---|---|
| Magallanes | 10,660 tourism workers, +20.8% in the rolling quarter | Torres del Paine and cruise season; book early |
| Antofagasta and Tarapacá | Double-digit growth; tourism above the national share | San Pedro de Atacama and Iquique concentrate demand |
| O'Higgins and Biobío | Double-digit growth | Colchagua Valley, Pichilemu and the Biobío coast |
| Rest of the country | Growth in 10 of 16 regions | No regional breakdown in the release |
Tourism promotion: from 5.8 billion to over 13 billion pesos
The 2027 budget bill kept about 5,805 million pesos for Sernatur's international promotion, as we explained in our story on the tourism budget. Now minister Mas said the line "would exceed 13 billion pesos (about US$13 million)" and that the increase must pass Congress, which is debating the Budget Law these days, according to Emol. In May the same minister put the amount left by the previous administration at about 6 billion pesos.
| Moment | International promotion budget | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 budget bill (September-October) | About 5,805 million pesos | Under debate |
| Figure cited by the minister in May | About 6,000 million pesos | Inherited amount, per Mas |
| 12 November announcement | Over 13,000 million pesos | Needs Congress approval |
The government links the money to spreading demand across the year, so that tourists come in autumn, winter and spring and not only from December to February. It is also pushing a Tourism Labour Statute, a bill sent to Congress in July that would allow working hours to be spread over longer cycles according to the season, without changing the 40-hour weekly cap.
What the tourism jobs outlook means for your trip to Chile
- Busier high season: if Santiago airport handles 7.49 million passengers from December to February, 2.3% more than a year earlier, January and February flights will fill up sooner. See how routes are returning to Santiago.
- More staff does not mean lower prices: the announcement includes no measures on rates. To plan your budget use how much a trip to Chile costs.
- Promotion works in the medium term: even if Congress approves the increase, its effect on foreign arrivals would show in 2027, not this summer.
- If you travel off-season: the official goal is to spread demand; autumn and spring usually mean fewer people in parks and cities.
Timeline of Chile's 2026-2027 summer tourism season
- July 2026Tourism Labour StatuteThe government sends it to Congress.
- 30 Oct 2026July-September tourism jobsAbout 680,000 workers, +4.4%.
- 12 Nov 2026Turismo Despega733,000-job projection and plan to double promotion.
- November 2026Congress votes the 2027 budget
- Dec 2026-Feb 2027High season7.49 million passengers expected in Santiago.
Sources: release from the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism of 12 November 2026; Emol and BioBioChile. Employment data are from INE (July-September 2026) and the summer projection is the government's.
Frequently asked questions
How many jobs does tourism create in Chile?
About 680,000 in July-September 2026, 7.3% of national employment, according to INE. For summer 2026-2027 the government projects about 733,000.
Has the doubling of tourism promotion been approved?
No. The government said it is an agreement among ministers that Congress must approve within the 2027 Budget Law, which is being debated in November.
Will Santiago airport be busier this summer?
The official estimate is 7,491,000 passengers between December and February, 2.3% more than a year earlier.
