Despite a tough 2010 for Chile, Santiago’s cultural and economic growth is in the international spotlight and may boost Chile’s tourism industry

The New York Times’ special feature of “The 41 Places to Go in 2011” published last Friday ranked Chile’s capital of Santiago as 2011’s best visitor destination. The article hailed the city for its immense economic growth and praised its recovery following the Feb. 27 earthquake.

Though the 8.8-magnitude earthquake was centered 200 miles to the south of Chile’s capital, it nonetheless left its mark on the city, particularly leaving visible damage in Santiago’s older buildings such as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (the National Museum of Fine Arts) and the national library building.

But the earthquake seemed to only briefly stall Santiago’s cultural advancements of recent years. And Chile’s continued presence in the international media following the earthquake, the national team’s success in the World Cup, and the most recent mining rescue do not seem to have tarnished Santiago’s international reputation.

In describing the selection of Santiago as the year’s must-see destination, the New York Times highlighted the recent emergence of sophisticated hotels, haute-cuisine restaurants, and modern museums, explaining that in recent years it has become more and more vibrant as a cultural hub.

The Museo de la Moda, a local fashion museum, receives particular praised as “perhaps the most remarkable cultural space to open in the last few years.” The Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center likewise received a mention, and its modern structure was featured in the article’s lead photo and on the front page of the New York Times’ website.

Moreover, the article explains, the U.S.-based contemporary music festival Lollapalooza has decided to branch out into foreign territories for the first time in its 20-year history. Traditionally held in Chicago, the location for this first overseas Lollapalooza festival is none other than Santiago, another reason the New York Times cites as a demonstration of the city’s up-and-coming role in the art and music world.

According to Perry Farrell, the founder of Lollapalooza, Santiago was picked due to its “open space and the variety of cultural offerings, and because locals have a passion for contemporary music.”

Santiago, which beat out the San Juan Islands and Koh Samui, Thailand in second and third place, did not feature in the newspaper’s 2010 list of travel destinations. In 2010, Sri Lanka was hailed as the top destination to visit.

SOURCES: EL MERCURIO, THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Phil Locker ( editor@santiagotimes.cl This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )