Chilean government to send a reform to the casino law in October

It was affirmed by the director of the National Service of Tourism (Sernatur), Jacqueline Plass, although he added that it can also happen “before the closure of the legislative period”, whose ordinary sessions conclude next September 18th.

She affirmed that the articles are being written, and it has to be accorded with the Ministry of Economy. “We are still in process, but it shouldn’t last much because there is consensus in the fact that it has to be done”. In fact, she indicated that previous dialogues have taken place with regards to the issue, and that “we have the support of the Commission of Tourism of the Chamber of Representatives”.

The current legislation prevents foreign ships to operate their casinos in Chilean territorial waters (12 miles from the line of the coast), a fact that has had an effect in the decrease of the 40% that has experimented the arrival of cruises in the country in the last two years, preventing the growth of the arrival of tourists.

With the economic crisis in 2008 and 2009, these cruises decreased their rates, transforming duty free and casinos in their main sources of income.

If approved, the initiative will allow gambling venues to keep open while cruises navigate in territorial waters, but not when they are anchored, because that way, they would compete with traditional casinos and which have participated in tenders.

Besides, Plass explained that Sernatur is ellaborating a new electronic platform, Chile.travel,which will have “all the touristic offer of the country, remarking those places with have quality and sustainability”, so they expect to boost the improvement in services in the companies of the sector. The page, that will be available in Internet from “mid November”, will also try to consolidate information for foreign tourists and also facilitate they their search of places to visit and hotels, for example.