Tourism's contribution to rebuilding

Natural disasters have a way to halt tourism; often an important source of income and the impetus for improving infrastructure, education and creating jobs.

Chile had the fifth largest travel & tourism economy in Latin America with a Travel & Tourism Demand accounting for (US$12 billion) in 2007, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Chile has begun a campaign to assure tourists that its tourist attractions are largely unaffected by the major earthquake that struck last weekend, and travel in most of the country is returning to normal.
Coverage from Britain and in USA Today.

We are planning on some major hiking in Torres del Paine National Park, in the very Southern part of Chile.

This map shows all the major routes through the Park's lakes, meadows and mountains. One of the bigger challenges, apart from the hiking of course, seems to be strong wind. They mention it on their own tourism site - so it must be quite something.

This is a stunningly beautiful place. Hiking here will be extraordinary.

To enlarge the map, simply click on it.