SANTIAGO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chile received more than 5 million tourists in 2024, up over 40 percent from 2023, authorities said Wednesday.

"We are thrilled to announce that 2024 marked a full recovery for tourism in Chile, with 5,239,233 foreign visitors, representing a 40.4 percent rise from 2023 and a 16.0 percent increase compared to 2019," said Deputy Tourism Secretary Veronica Pardo.

She noted December as the strongest month of the year, with over 647,000 arrivals and a 47.3 percent year-on-year increase.

"These figures reflect the joint efforts of public and private sectors to position Chile as an attractive, sustainable and safe global destination," Pardo said. ■