Chile Forum

This is the new location of the Forum from http://www.allsouthernchile.com. As things progress we will add more catagories to fill this section. We felt it would be easier to read as one long section. We would also like to invite the users of the forum to visit http://www.allsouthernchile.com for articles, news, and real estate in Southern Chile.

Yea, there is also a growing photo essay section on http://www.allsouthernchile.com. Some of the photos are ours, others have been donated.

Yea, that has paid advertising by the casino written all over it. That is one of things that pisses me off is the "Pucon is Southern Chile" marketing by the government. It really robs the rest of Southern Chile's economy of a chance at some tourism dollars. Granted, they did give some plugs for the national parks, but more as day trips.

Last year we went in to the Sentur office here to talk to the director about allsouthernchile.com and promoting more of the region. We got the, "if you are not promoting Pucon, your not promoting southern Chile" dribble. They were completely uninterested in anything that was not redirecting every single tourist to Pucon. Every dollar they had was geared towards Pucon marketing studies, fliers, and the like.

It's PRRRRRR dahlink! Not so much paid advertising as a free trip for the author. The fact he did at the end mention alternative accommodation is a nod to "balanced journalism" yes an oxymoron if ever there was one.

But that's what "news" is. Many thanks for posting it Uncle P, it's still definitely a good read for the uninitiated.

Admin - interesting re Sernatur, I wonder why? Vested interests, or falta imaginacion? Thoughts?

In all fairness to the government tourism office, they did have a nice flyer they were just unpacking that did not relate to Pucon. It was a warning to watch out for SARS in Chile, 5+ years after the outbreak in Asia. They were putting it on the front desk of the tourism office in Temuco. Meanwhile there was a line of people begging to get at the information behind the desk that only the guys at the desk were allowed to handout.

The funny thing is that some of the best sales pitches for the rest of southern Chile I have gotten from a tourism office came from the city tourism office in downtown Pucon. The girls I have talked to there did a great job of pushing the whole region, including places as far south as Puerto Varas and Chiloe. They were just all around better trained than the government tourism offices we have seen in Chile.

The guys at the government tourism office just don't get the fact that Pucon by itself is not sufficient for a serious tourism industry. You need to push southern Chile as an integrated whole.

Example, Las Vegas works because when you walk out of one Casino you are moved directly in to the casino across the street by traffic flow, walkways, signs, and so on. If when a tourist leaves Pucon the traffic sings direct them to Argentina (and Argentina does hardcore international tourism), that is where the tourism money will go.

No doubt that your endeavors here will reap rewards of those who travel and settle in southern Chile. There aren't many places in this here world that resemble the frontiers of Alaska and the like, and let's face it, there getting to be tourist traps. Ever try and do laundry in Alaska? $8.00 US per load. Of course one may add, that there tourism season is only 5-6 months. That being said, point in proof. Wilderness isn't what it used to be. No, I suppose travel will be the demise of Chilean wilderness as well, as gringos come and expect and demand to be treated with their "civilized" ways. That and paving a highway all the way to Isla Grande Tierra del Fuego, will open these hinder lands to commercial interests, and wa-bam! You'll wonder how so many RV's got here, let alone how far off the beaten path you have to be to get some peace and quiet. G out.

Ahhh G! I agree. It's sad isn't it! Places that feel they need tourism to help them prosper, suffer dearly in the process, and in the end. A few other thread have touched on this. And I find myself wanting to shout to the world, PATAGONIA! Yet, I must reign myself in. For it wouldn't be Patagonia is everyone came here. The world though, it is a changing. And I for one have grave misgivings about how it is happening! Chile, and Patagonia has a chance to do it different. Perhaps distance and oil prices will ensure it remains lovely.

Vicki

Let's not forget all da homies up in the northside yo! We be up in here yawl Represent!

Chuck! You da man! Get going on a thread there. Tombrad has some great info on the northern region, and if we had more time this go-around, we'd certainly give it a gander. Perhaps when I come up to get a liver transplant.....

Seriously, start a thread, post some photos, give us some info!

Vicki