The Chile Tourism Workshop and B2B Event, organized under the leadership of the Ankara Embassy, brought together the natural and cultural riches of Latin America with Turkish tourism professionals.
The Chile Tourism Workshop and B2B Event, organized in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Ankara, Chile Travel, the Chile Trade Office - ProChile, and Turkish Airlines (THY), was held in Istanbul on Monday.
The event, aimed at promoting Chile's tourism sector and its staging opportunities, featured one-on-one meetings between travel agencies from Türkiye and Chilean tour operators (Destination Management Companies (DMCs)) and service providers. These meetings provided participants with the opportunity to forge new partnerships and gain a deeper understanding of the Latin American market.
Chile's Ambassador to Ankara, Rodrigo Arcos, stated that this was the first time they had held a promotional event in Türkiye with the participation of Chilean travel agencies. Recalling that 2026 will mark the centennial of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Chile, Arcos stated that Chile stands out in the tourism sector, particularly for its natural beauty, high-quality accommodation options, and rich cuisine. The event also showcased Chile's natural and cultural riches, from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, from Valparaiso to Easter Island.
Another highlight of the event was the launch of Turkish Airlines' direct flights between Istanbul and Santiago. Speaking to Euronews Turkish, Turkish Airlines Regional Sales and Marketing Manager Douglas Araujo said, "We are delighted to have launched our Istanbul-Santiago flights, the first of our kind since December 18th. These flights operate via Sao Paulo."
"This is the result of all the work we've done; a joint effort with the embassy, all tourism organisations, and tour operators to increase passenger demand. This applies to those travelling from Türkiye to Chile, from Chile to Türkiye, and also to those travelling from other countries via Turkey," he added.
Özge Tüysüzoğlu Garate, ProChile Chile Trade Office Turkey Representative Özge Tüysüzoğlu Garate shared her satisfaction with promoting Chile's tourism potential in Türkiye and developing sectoral collaborations.