Chile Selects Global Buyers and Media for AdventureWEEK Coquimbo Ahead of December Showcase

Chile selects global buyers and media for AdventureWEEK Coquimbo ahead of its December showcase, after the Adventure Travel Trade Association closed international applications for a hosted programme designed to introduce Coquimbo’s adventure tourism, astrotourism, coastal landscapes and local operators to overseas travel professionals. The event will run from 7 to 13 December 2026, with selected delegates expected to experience the destination directly before meeting regional suppliers.

AdventureWEEK Coquimbo Moves Into Selection Stage

The Adventure Travel Trade Association is preparing to bring its AdventureWEEK format to Chile’s Coquimbo Region this December, placing the destination before a selected group of international tourism buyers and travel media.

Applications opened in July and closed at 11:59 p.m. GMT on 7 September 2026.

ATTA and its destination partners are now reviewing candidates, with final selections scheduled to be announced by October.

The programme targets professionals capable of either developing tourism products around Coquimbo or generating international editorial coverage of the region.

ATTA sought 13 hosted buyer delegates and two official media delegates, making participation highly selective rather than an open trade event.

AdventureWEEK Coquimbo 2026 at a Glance

The programme is being developed with the Regional Government of Coquimbo, Regional Council of Coquimbo, Sernatur Región de Coquimbo and Chile’s national tourism service.

Buyers Targeted From Seven International Markets

ATTA’s buyer application focused on travel professionals whose principal customer bases are located in seven markets: Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Eligible buyers included outbound tour operators, travel advisers and online travel agencies.

Importantly, applicants were expected to be decision-makers involved in developing itineraries rather than simply attending as observers.

ATTA specifically targeted businesses specialising in adventure and sustainable tourism and those interested in adding Coquimbo to their portfolios.

That commercial focus is central to the AdventureWEEK format.

The objective is not simply to introduce travel professionals to a destination. Selected buyers are expected to assess tourism experiences that could later be packaged and sold to travellers in their home markets.

Two Media Delegates to Receive Hosted Places

The media programme is even more selective.

ATTA sought only two official media delegates for AdventureWEEK Coquimbo.

Eligible applicants included established freelance journalists, newspaper and magazine editors, digital editors, travel content creators and qualifying broadcast journalists or producers.

Applicants needed a track record of covering subjects such as:

• Adventure travel
• Sustainable tourism
• Ecotourism
• Outdoor experiences
• Culture
• Environmental issues

ATTA’s criteria excluded several professional categories from its official media places, including advertising sales representatives, PR agencies, marketing agencies and personal or hobby bloggers.

Selected journalists are considered working media and are expected to produce editorial content based on their experience in Coquimbo.

Hosted Delegates Get Airfare and Accommodation

Successful buyer and media applicants will receive substantial hosted support.

ATTA’s official application information states that selected delegates receive round-trip economy airfare to and from Coquimbo, accommodation during the event, airport transfers and a multi-day experiential adventure.

In return, delegates are expected to participate in the complete programme.

Buyers must actively investigate Coquimbo’s tourism potential, attend scheduled Marketplace meetings and provide feedback after the event.

Media participants are expected to research stories, engage with suppliers and destinations, participate in Marketplace meetings and publish content resulting from their visit.

The model is designed to convert destination exposure into either future tourism sales or international media coverage.

Coquimbo Wants Attention Beyond Chile’s Famous Tourism Regions

One of the most commercially significant aspects of the event is its location.

International tourism promotion for Chile frequently centres on globally recognised destinations such as Patagonia and the Atacama Desert.

Coquimbo offers a different proposition.

Located between the Pacific and the Andes, the region combines marine environments, semi-arid valleys, mountain landscapes, rural communities and exceptionally clear night skies.

ATTA has specifically positioned the event as an opportunity for international buyers to diversify their Chilean programmes beyond the country’s established tourism icons.

That gives Coquimbo an opportunity to present itself not as an alternative version of Patagonia or Atacama, but as a distinct adventure destination.

Astrotourism Gives Coquimbo a Clear Selling Point

Night skies form a central part of Coquimbo’s tourism proposition.

The region has internationally recognised conditions for astronomical observation and hosts major observatories.

This has supported the development of astrotourism, where visitors combine travel experiences with astronomical observation and interpretation.

For tourism buyers, that creates opportunities to combine night-sky experiences with daytime outdoor activities.

ATTA describes Coquimbo as a destination where astronomy, nature, science and culture can be incorporated into adventure itineraries.

This can differentiate the region from destinations competing primarily on hiking, cycling or conventional nature tourism.

Adventure Extends From the Pacific to the Andes

Geographic variety is another part of the programme’s appeal.

Coquimbo stretches from the Pacific coastline through valleys and towards high-Andean environments.

The region therefore allows different landscapes to be incorporated within relatively compact itineraries.

Potential experiences highlighted by ATTA include coastal wildlife, marine environments, rural landscapes, outdoor adventures and cultural encounters.

The event announcement specifically points to activities such as kayaking near sea lion colonies and exploring semi-arid valleys before experiencing the region’s night skies.

For buyers creating multi-activity holidays, that combination can be commercially useful because several experiences can potentially be packaged within one regional itinerary.

Marketplace Will Connect International Buyers With Local Businesses

AdventureWEEK is structured differently from a conventional tourism exhibition.

Delegates first experience the destination and then participate in a Marketplace involving meetings with local operators and tourism suppliers.

That order is intentional.

Buyers arrive at business meetings having already experienced elements of the destination rather than relying entirely on brochures, presentations or sales material.

Media delegates similarly enter the Marketplace with direct knowledge of local landscapes and experiences.

ATTA describes AdventureWEEK more broadly as a market-activation programme that culminates in destination visits and one-to-one business meetings.

For Coquimbo operators, this creates direct access to international professionals who have already demonstrated an interest in adventure and sustainable travel.

Local Operators Could Gain International Distribution

The potential tourism impact will depend heavily on what happens after December.

AdventureWEEK itself lasts only several days, but participating buyers can potentially generate longer-term commercial results if they introduce Coquimbo experiences into international itineraries.

For regional businesses, the opportunities could include:

• New relationships with international tour operators
• Inclusion in Chile and South America itineraries
• Greater exposure in European and American markets
• International editorial coverage
• New demand for adventure tourism experiences
• Greater visibility for astrotourism
• Stronger links between local suppliers and global travel advisers

ATTA also requires hosted buyers to provide post-event feedback, helping destination partners assess the commercial impact of the programme.

Coquimbo Puts Sustainable Tourism Into the Programme

Sustainability is another major component of the event.

ATTA’s buyer criteria specifically prioritise professionals working with adventure and sustainable travel.

The Coquimbo programme is expected to showcase experiences connected with biodiversity, conservation and communities.

This approach reflects the growing overlap between adventure tourism and destination management.

Adventure destinations depend heavily on natural environments, meaning long-term tourism growth must be considered alongside conservation and local economic participation.

For Coquimbo, the December event provides an opportunity to demonstrate how those principles are being incorporated into tourism products offered to international markets.

Applications Are Now Closed

For prospective participants, the most important current update is that applications are no longer open.

The original announcement invited international buyers and media to apply, but that application window ended on 7 September.

ATTA’s official buyer and media pages now clearly state that applications are closed.

The process has consequently moved into candidate review.

Final selections are expected to be announced by October, after ATTA and its Coquimbo destination partners assess applicants.

Selection criteria include geographic representation, professional background and a mix of newcomers and previous ATTA event participants.

For buyers, organisers also want a balance between outbound tour operators, travel advisers and online travel agencies, including specialists in areas such as trekking, cycling and wildlife.

December Event Could Broaden Chile’s Adventure Tourism Map

AdventureWEEK Coquimbo arrives at a time when destinations are increasingly looking for ways to distribute visitors beyond their most recognisable attractions.

Chile already has a powerful international adventure-travel identity, particularly through Patagonia and the Atacama.

Coquimbo offers the country an opportunity to expand that map.

Its combination of Pacific coastline, valleys, Andean environments, wildlife, communities and astronomy creates a tourism proposition capable of supporting several different adventure products.

The December event will test how strongly those experiences resonate with international buyers and media.

The longer-term result will depend on whether exposure during AdventureWEEK converts into new itineraries, bookings, partnerships and editorial coverage.

Conclusion

Chile selects global buyers and media for AdventureWEEK Coquimbo ahead of its December showcase, following the closure of international applications on 7 September for 13 hosted buyers and two official media delegates. The 7–13 December 2026 programme will put Coquimbo’s Pacific coastline, semi-arid valleys, Andean landscapes, astrotourism and regional operators directly before international travel professionals. With selections due by October, the next stage will determine which buyers and journalists will experience the region and connect with local suppliers as Coquimbo seeks greater visibility in the global adventure tourism market.

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