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Tourism in Chile Article evaluation:

This article is extensive and well-researched. It is neutral and all of the writing is relevant to tourism. Furthermore, there are a lot of links, and all of the links are relevant.

It does focus too much on the physical/eco-tourism sites and not enough on the culture that a tourist could expect to see/experience. I don't feel like I get a sense of what it's like to interact with the people. I would like to include more about cultural customs and ethnic traditions.

Also, there is almost no description of the development of the tourism industry like transportation, emergency numbers, safety, visa issues, etc. I would like to add that in. Since I'm an American, I will be including it from an American's perspective, but I will try to be as objective as possible.

Some of the grammar is incorrect, clearly translated directly from Spanish.

Some of the citations don't exist. Other than that, the citations are frequent and accurate.

I plan on writing a lot more about the culture of Chileans, and what tourists can expect as far as the culture. I will be focusing on the culture of Santiago, as that is the region I am most familiar with. I will also describe more about the tourist industry in each of the different zones.

Overview and Statistics
In 2017 a record total of 6,449,993 international tourists visited Chile, a 13.3% increase from 2016. Argentina remained the most common country of origen, followed by Brazil. European tourists were third in terms of total numbers. The average tourist stayed for 10 nights. The Chilean government attributes the rise in tourism to "promotional campaigns, the development of new products and tourist destinations and a renewed diversification of experiences."

Chile was been recognized as the World's Best for Adventure Travel in 2017 by the World Travel Awards, emphasizing its abundance of natural and eco-tourist attractions.

Tourism for the year 2018 is projected to continue the increase in visitors, with more than 7 million international tourists estimated to travel to Chile. Online guidebook Lonely Planet has listed Chile as its number 1 destination to visit in 2018. Lonely Planet emphasizes visiting the city of Valparaiso, the northern Atacama Desert, and Patagonia to the south.

Language
Chilean Spanish is distinctive from other forms of Spanish. S's at the ends of words are often dropped, and consonants are sometimes combined. Chilean Spanish also features many slang terms and phrases that are unique. There are other indigenous languages, but they are not commonly spoken. Over 99% of the country is literate.

Etiquette
When men greet other men, it is customary to give a handshake and a hug. Women greet other women with a single kiss on the cheek, while men and women also greet each other with a single kiss. When leaving a social setting the individual will go around to each person to say goodbye before leaving. It is important to use Usted with those who are senior to you, and to greet the senior member of the household first. Bribery, while common in other areas of South America, is highly frowned upon in Chile, in business or in dealings with the police.

Fiestas Patrias
One of the most celebrated holidays in Chile is Independence Day, or the Fiestas Patrias, on September 18th. The celebration lasts an entire week, and Chilean flags are hung from every public building, The celebration features traditional food like empanadas, partying with friends and family, music, and traditional dancing of the cueca.

La Fiesta de la Tirana
The Feast of the Tyrant is a religious festival every year that takes place in the town of La Tirana in the north of Chile. It has indigenous roots, but was created by Catholics in the mid 19th Century to celebrate the feast of the Virgen of Carmen, the patron saint of Chile. Over 250,000 people a year visit this week-long festival and participate in traditional dances where multi-colored costumes symbolize the different cultures that have mixed into Chile. For the rest of the year the town only houses 1,500 people, so the housing, facilities and security are temporary, brought in just for the celebration. Dry law is strictly enforced during the festival, so tourists should not expect to be drinking within the town during the festivities.

Vina del Mar International Song Festival
The Vina del Mar International Song Festival is one of the most prestigious festivals in the Americas and features music stars from all over the world who compete for the top prize in the Song category and the Folk Song category. The first edition of the festival took place in 1960, and since then it has seen the investment of millions of dollars each year to make it a premier music festival. It takes place at the Quinta Vergara Park for five days in the city of Vina del Mar. A modern amphitheater was been specially built for the festival in 2002 Around 15,000 people attend every year, and more view it online or on TV.