Chile a 'natural' draw for affluent Chinese tourists

Chile may become a tourism destination for wealthy Chinese visitors if bilateral industry ties can be further developed, diplomats and tourism officials said.

Chile is one of the farthest countries from China and airfares will remain as high as $3,000 no matter which route Chinese tourists take, said Liu Rutao, economic and commercial adviser at China's embassy in Chile. That limits the destination to those who cannot afford such a high fare.

Liu noted that Chile's extremely diverse natural landscapes mean that the country is a place for those who seek adventure, rather than shopping or sightseeing.