The Aymara Community, local authorities and SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition joined forces to kick off the Tourism Development Plan, seeking to position Quillagua as a tourist destination in the Antofagasta Region.
Located 380 kilometers north of Antofagasta, in the heart of the Atacama Desert, Quillagua hosted the kick-off event for the Tourism Development Plan. This initiative seeks to enhance local identity, strengthen the economy and promote tourism.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Aymara Community, the Municipality of María Elena, regional government and SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition, who reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate to position Quillagua as a cultural and intercultural tourism destination in Chile’s Norte Grande.
“Today we are celebrating the improved Tourism Development program, a working plan to boost tourism, culture and local identity. We want Quillagua to no longer be a dot on the map and become a nationally recognized destination,” said Viviana Cuello, the town’s mayor.
Violeta Oxa, president of the Aymara Community, shared her enthusiasm and the commitment to local development: “We have been waiting for this for many years, and today, with the help of SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition and the authorities, we are fulfilling a dream. What is happening is wonderful, an unforgettable moment.”
The plan includes lines of action focused on heritage tourism, the recovery of traditional trades and the creation of cross-cultural tourism routes that connect visitors with the living history of the oasis.
“This Tourism Development Plan is a joint effort. We have great expectations for it, as it will improve the residents’ quality of life and strengthen the local economy,” added Mauricio Soriano, Regional Director of the National Tourism Service, Sernatur.
Leonor González, Head of Pampa Community Affairs at SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainable development: “We are proud to accompany the Aymara Community of Quillagua in this process that seeks to position the town as a tourist destination. We are promoting sustainable programs with a cross-cultural approach to attract visitors and encourage permanent tourism.”
Quillagua’s Tourism Development Plan not only seeks to attract visitors, but also to preserve the memory and revitalize the identity of a town that has managed to flourish in the driest desert in the world.
