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At the Nitrates Museum in María Elena, the first Tourism Management Office was inaugurated. It will function as a space for coordinating tourism to the museum, where tourism service providers and local agents can work.

It will also be a place where tourists can get information on attractions and activities they can see and do in the area and will serve as an operations center for tourism development, as well as a space for promoting sustainable, responsible tourism.

The largest beneficiaries of this initiative are the people who work in tourism in María Elena, since they can use it as a meeting place for tourists and also to specialize their products, publicize tourism routes and for many other activities.

The office will be run by the tourism management area of the Sustainable Tourism Foundation. However, organizers are hoping to also collaborate with tourism service providers and agents.

Carolina Elgueta, president of the board of the Sustainable Tourism Foundation, pointed out: “We are very happy about its opening. We would like to thank the municipality and the private sector, which have believed in our foundation and have played a leading role in this process along with the community. This is a milestone for María Elena that enables us to position the area’s tourism by forging a close bond between tourism providers and agents.”

Pablo Pisani, Director of Communications, Sustainability and Public Affairs at SQM, highlighted that: “As a company, we are very committed to the work being done by the Sustainable Tourism Foundation and we want to move forward to accomplish new milestones like this one. Adding value to the history and emblematic places in this district is also done to ensure the sustainable development of the district and its neighbors, which we will continue to strengthen.”

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Irina Salgado, regional director of Sernatur, commented: “Tourism is developed along with the private sector, with local business ventures and quality certifications. That is why today we are awarding two seals to local operators. Only four destinations in our region have an office: San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta, Calama and Maria Elena, marking a major achievement thanks to you all and the collaborative work of all production sectors.”

This initiative was carried out thanks to the participation of SQM’s communications area, the local municipality’s tourism bureau and the Sustainable Tourism Foundation.

The office will be open at the same times as the museum, from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information on the destination, check out www.mariaelena.travel