Chile to implement stricter safety rules for adventure tourism

A new set of regulations

Chile parliament recently adopted new regulations requiring all adventure tourism providers to comply with strict safety standards. Monitoring is to be done by Sernatur, the Chile Tourism Agency, which will be granted the powers to increased penalties, and eventually shut down services that do not comply with the regulations.

The Chamber of Deputies approved the new laws by 115 votes in favor and 10 against. The bill aims at strengthening safety in adventure tourism activities in the country. The initiative will now pass in front of the Senate.

One of the main changes is the institutionalization of the R Seal. The seal will become a mandatory requirement for all adventure tourism providers. The official accreditation will prove that the company complies with the law and safety standards. It must be visible so that tourists and users can easily identify it.

To obtain it, companies must undergo a verification conducted by a specialized organization. It will consequently assess whether they meet the established standards. This review is different from the inspections carried out by Sernatur. Both will complement each other. While the technical verification certifies the service, Sernatur will be able to strengthen its control work with more and better field operations.

The law also increases the penalties for those who do not comply with the regulations with higher fines. Authorities can also temporarily or permanently shut down services that do not adhere to the rules.

R Seal to come into force within 12 months time

Additionally, deadlines are established for implementing these measures: the law’s regulations must be drafted within a maximum of 12 months, defining how the R Seal will be applied according to the risk level of each activity and how often it must be renewed.

Chile Undersecretary of Tourism, Verónica Pardo, valued the approval of the bill in the Chamber of Deputies. “It is a milestone for the sector, because for the first time, we introduced modifications to the Tourism Law with a focus on people’s safety. This is a clear signal that we want those who engage in adventure tourism to do so with the confidence that there are clear, verifiable, and enforceable standards. Moreover, this step reinforces Chile’s commitment to responsible tourism, where the quality of the experience and safety always go hand in hand,” said Pardo.

For Sernatur general director, Cristóbal Benítez, this ratification marks a decisive step as ” it is part of Sernatur efforts over the past few years to strengthen safety.” This includes a Program for the Regulation of Tourist Services, the incorporation of new types of adventure tourism activities into the National Register, the implementation of safety requirements, the updating of technical standards as well as the development of the first technical standard for bungee.”

With this modification, Chile seeks not only to offer unique experiences in adventure tourism. It also wants to make the country a reliable and safe destination for adventure tourists.