Argentina, Chile and Colombia will launch a joint marketing effort in Australia prompted by rapidly growing visitor numbers and improved air access.
Tourism officials and a delegation of 30 South American tourism companies will visit Australia in August for five events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Turismo Chile long haul market manager Carolina Valenzuela said the destination had “set its sights” on Australia.
“Our country has never been more accessible to Australia, with daily flights from Sydney to Santiago with LAN and Qantas and three direct flights weekly from Sydney to Santiago with Qantas,” she said.
Aerolineas Argentinas' new direct service between Sydney and Buenos Aires is expected to boost Australian numbers to Argentina, which received 40,000 Aussies in 2011.
Meanwhile, Colombia is also seeing encouraging growth in inbound numbers, albeit off a low base, with Australian visitors up 15.4% to 10,363 in 2011. Visa requirements for Australians have been suspended to encourage travel.
