PLANNING OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS: A PENDING CHALLENGE FOR MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT IN CHILE

Abstract

Tourism management is a topic of growing interest at the local level. In Chile, 108 new offices, departments, or directorates responsible for tourism were created within municipalities between 2010 and 2020. This article analyzes this development, addressing the following questions: Do touristic destinations in Chile have tourism development plans that guide the management of municipal authorities? What degree of progress in the implementation of their plans of action have these municipalities registered? The objective is to contribute to reflection on the scenario within which the country's touristic municipalities are currently operating. This is a key issue at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated international debate about the new conditions that tourist destinations must meet to accommodate visitor demand once borders reopen and confidence in travel recovers.