The biggest problem facing Chile as it promotes itself as a tourist destination is that it

The biggest problem facing Chile as it promotes itself as a tourist desti

nation is that it is at the end of the earth. It is too far southern to be a 【M1】______

convenient stop on the way to anywhere else and is much further than a 【M2】______

relatively cheap half-day's flight away from the big tourist markets. Chile,

therefore, is having to fight hard to attract tourists, to convince travelers

that it is worthwhile coming halfway round the world to visit. 【M3】______

Like all South American countriss, Chile sees to urism as a valuable

earner of foreign currency, although it has been far more serious than most

in promoting its image abroad. Relatively stable political within the region, 【M4】______

it has benefited from the problems suffering in other areas. In Peru, 【M5】______

guerrilla war in recent years has dealt a heavy blow to the tourist industry and 【M6】______

fear of street crime in Brazil has reduced the attraction of Rio de Janeiro as

a dream destination for foreigners.

More than 150,000 people are directly involved in Chile's tourist

sector, an industry which earns the country more than $ 950 million each

year. The state-run National Tourism Service, in partner with a number of 【M7】______

private companies, is currently running a worldwide campaign, takes part 【M8】______

in trade fairs and international events to attract visitors to Chile. Chile's

great strength as a tourist destination is its geographical diversity. From the

parching Atacama Desert in the north to the Antarctic snowfields of the 【M9】______

south, it is more than 5000km long. With the Pacific on one side and the

Andean mountains on the other, Chile boasts in natural attractions. Its 【M10】______

beaches are not up to Caribbean standards but resorts, such as Vina del Mar

are generally clean and unspoilt and have a high standard ofservice.

【M1】