During the session, the main achievements of the program’s second year were presented, highlighting strengthened destination governance, the promotion of electric mobility in tourism, improvements in hospitality and service quality, promotional actions through the destination’s digital platform, collaboration with national and international networks, and progress in the Green Destinations international certification process.
The PTI Sustainable Tourism Manager, Roberto Machuca, emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating:
“We are concluding a highly important session where we presented this year’s results, including the electromobility study, which addresses its technical and economic feasibility as a differentiating factor for tourism transport in San Pedro de Atacama. In addition, we have advanced in the Green Destinations certification process, presenting the current status of the audit. We have high expectations of obtaining this certification and positioning ourselves among the world’s leading tourist destinations, which will enable us to promote sustainable tourism and reduce the gaps identified in this process.”
The Green Destinations certification is an international standard that evaluates the performance of tourist destinations in areas such as sustainable management, environmental protection, cultural heritage, socio-economic impact, and the quality of the tourism experience, promoting continuous improvements in sustainability.
For his part, the Acting Executive Director of the Corfo Antofagasta Committee, Juan Ignacio Zamorano, highlighted the collaborative work fostered by the program, noting that:
“We are concluding a second year in which the challenge has been to move forward based on a shared vision among the various stakeholders involved in tourism activity: Atacameño communities, operators, and both the public and private sectors. From this, we aim to implement concrete actions that allow us to plan and organize the destination, ensure its sustainability, and project it into the future with tourism that is more respectful of traditions and the territorial context.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Justo Zuleta underscored the program’s impact on local development, highlighting:
“Corfo’s long-standing contribution and, in particular, this work through the PTI, where we are strengthening the destination’s tourism governance. We are taking on new challenges, such as advancing certifications, incorporating electric mobility, and addressing water sustainability. This goes beyond tourism promotion, as it seeks to create better conditions for those who live in the territory and to offer high-quality service to visitors, moving toward greater professionalization and sustainability of the destination.”
The seminar also included presentations by specialists such as Diego Fernández, an expert in electric mobility, and Felipe Vera, a specialist in sustainable tourism and Green Destinations certification.
This gathering reaffirms the commitment of public and private stakeholders to continue coordinating efforts to position San Pedro de Atacama as a benchmark for sustainable tourism at both the national and international levels.
