From January to August 2026, 30,408 Chinese tourists arrived in Chile, 24.1% more than in the same period of 2025 (24,499). It is the second-fastest growth among the top fifteen source countries, after Australia (+82.8%), and leaves China just 12,449 arrivals short of its annual record, the 42,857 tourists of 2025. China is also Chile's largest Asian market, supplying almost half (48.3%) of the tourists arriving from Asia, according to the foreign tourist arrivals data from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, compiled from Investigations Police (PDI) records.
*Updated on November 3, 2026, with the October 2026 release (data through August 2026).* Figures refer to tourists of Chinese nationality and exclude arrivals at seaports. Figures from 2020 onward are preliminary.
Chinese tourists in Chile by year
| Year | Chinese tourists | % of all tourists |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 6,303 | 0.2% |
| 2012 | 12,088 | 0.3% |
| 2015 | 15,404 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 22,992 | 0.4% |
| 2017 | 30,774 | 0.5% |
| 2018 | 34,583 | 0.6% |
| 2019 | 36,170 | 0.8% |
| 2020 | 5,798 | 0.5% |
| 2021 | 925 | 0.5% |
| 2022 | 6,954 | 0.3% |
| 2023 | 20,645 | 0.6% |
| 2024 | 35,457 | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 42,857 | 0.7% |
| 2026 (January to August) | 30,408 | 0.9% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Cuadro por Nacionalidad" sheet. Percentages: Viajando Chile's calculation. The annual record for Chinese tourists is 2025, with 42,857, up 20.9% on 2024 and 18.5% above 2019, the last year before the pandemic. In 2008, 6,303 arrived: in seventeen years the market grew almost sevenfold. If as many Chinese visitors arrive from September to December 2026 as in those months of 2025 (18,358), the year would close near 48,800, a new high; this is our own projection, not an official figure.
The collapse of 2020 and 2021, with only 925 Chinese tourists in all of 2021, reflects the border closures. The recovery was slower than for neighboring markets: in 2023 arrivals were still 43% below 2019, and only in 2025 did they surpass pre-pandemic levels. The series for every country is in foreign tourist arrivals in Chile by year.
Chinese tourists in Chile in 2026, month by month
| Month | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % of the month's tourists (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5,347 | 3,783 | +41.3% | 0.8% |
| February | 4,598 | 3,530 | +30.3% | 0.9% |
| March | 6,330 | 4,574 | +38.4% | 1.4% |
| April | 3,863 | 3,451 | +11.9% | 1.1% |
| May | 2,758 | 2,777 | -0.7% | 1.0% |
| June | 2,686 | 1,871 | +43.6% | 1.0% |
| July | 2,257 | 2,212 | +2.0% | 0.6% |
| August | 2,569 | 2,301 | +11.6% | 0.7% |
| January to August | 30,408 | 24,499 | +24.1% | 0.9% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Changes and shares: Viajando Chile's calculation. March 2026, with 6,330 arrivals, was the best March on record for Chinese tourists, and seven of the year's eight months grew compared with 2025. Chinese tourists come mainly in the southern summer: November, December and the first quarter post the highest figures, and the monthly record is December 2025, with 6,981 arrivals.
Winter is the low season: July and August stay below 2,600 Chinese tourists a month. Seasonality for every market is compared in the months with the most foreign tourists in Chile.
Where Chinese tourists enter Chile
| Point of entry | 2026 (January to August) | % 2026 | 2025 | % 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (Santiago) | 25,589 | 84.2% | 37,866 | 88.4% |
| Río Don Guillermo (Cerro Castillo, Magallanes) | 1,584 | 5.2% | 1,468 | 3.4% |
| Hito Cajón (San Pedro de Atacama) | 1,072 | 3.5% | 1,196 | 2.8% |
| Laurita Casas Viejas (Puerto Natales) | 585 | 1.9% | 466 | 1.1% |
| San Sebastián (Tierra del Fuego) | 262 | 0.9% | 274 | 0.6% |
| Salar de Ollagüe (Antofagasta) | 237 | 0.8% | 256 | 0.6% |
| Cristo Redentor System (Los Libertadores) | 211 | 0.7% | 193 | 0.5% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Consulta desagregada" sheet (nationality: China). Viajando Chile's calculation. Eight in ten Chinese tourists fly into Santiago, but 8.0% cross overland from Argentine Patagonia through the Magallanes crossings, the gateway to Torres del Paine. That share rose from 5.1% in 2025: Río Don Guillermo and Laurita Casas Viejas, the crossings linking El Calafate and Río Turbio with Puerto Natales, have already beaten their full-year 2025 figures.
By region, in 2026 the Santiago Metropolitan Region received 25,589 Chinese tourists (84.2%), Magallanes 2,817 (9.3%) and Antofagasta 1,382 (4.5%), the latter mostly through Hito Cajón, the crossing that links Jujuy with San Pedro de Atacama. If you are planning that route: Torres del Paine entrance fees in 2026, the Valle de la Luna and Chile's busiest border crossings for tourists.
Does your hotel, shop or agency welcome Asian tourists? Reach them while they plan their trip, with Viajando Chile.
See advertising optionsChinese tourists versus other Asian markets in Chile
| Nationality | Jan-Aug 2026 | Jan-Aug 2025 | Change | Full year 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 30,408 | 24,499 | +24.1% | 42,857 |
| South Korea | 10,960 | 10,580 | +3.6% | 16,135 |
| Japan | 7,779 | 6,923 | +12.4% | 11,243 |
| India | 3,775 | 3,302 | +14.3% | 6,100 |
| Taiwan | 2,683 | 2,539 | +5.7% | 4,109 |
| Singapore | 1,693 | 1,359 | +24.6% | 3,296 |
| Total Asia | 62,969 | 53,633 | +17.4% | 91,213 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, foreign tourist arrivals. The official spreadsheet groups Israel and other countries under "Middle East", outside Asia. Changes: Viajando Chile's calculation. China accounts for 48.3% of Asian tourists in 2026 and nearly triples South Korea, Asia's second market. In the overall ranking of nationalities, China moved from 17th place in 2025 to 15th from January to August 2026, ahead of Italy and Canada. The full ranking is in foreign tourists in Chile by country.
Sernatur does not publish China separately in its inbound tourism spending tables; it is grouped under "rest of the world", so there is no spending figure per Chinese tourist comparable with the countries that are listed. The available comparison is in how much foreign tourists spend in Chile.
Frequently asked questions
How many Chinese tourists visit Chile each year?
In 2025, 42,857 arrived, the record of the series and 0.7% of all foreign tourists. From January to August 2026, 30,408 arrived, 24.1% more than a year earlier.
Is the number of Chinese tourists in Chile growing?
Yes. Their 24.1% rise in 2026 is the second largest among the top fifteen source countries, after Australia, and arrivals are already 28.2% above January-August 2019.
Where do Chinese tourists enter Chile?
84.2% through Santiago's airport. Next come the Magallanes crossings towards Puerto Natales (Río Don Guillermo and Laurita Casas Viejas, 7.1% combined) and Hito Cajón, near San Pedro de Atacama (3.5%).
Which month had the most Chinese tourists?
December 2025, with 6,981 arrivals, according to the 2008-2026 series from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *Chinese tourists in Chile 2026: 30,408 arrivals through August, up 24.1% on 2025 and heading for a new record*. Based on data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Available at: https://viajandochile.com/en/news/chinese-tourists-in-chile-statistics
