However, while this region is projected as a hub for "sustainable tourism," there is a need to address a reality that is often overlooked: the abusive practices of certain organizations that exploit the cultural heritage of indigenous communities in Chilean Patagonia.

One case that illustrates this problem is Sustainable Travel International (STI), a U.S.-based organization that has been promoting a "cultural tourism" project involving the Kawésqar community through their website (link here). Since 2020, we have requested the removal of this misleading advertisement, which uses unauthorized images of the community and falsely claims that STI has supported our communities in preserving and sharing their culture. The truth is that STI has had no collaboration with the Kawésqar communities they promote on their website and has never contributed to efforts to preserve our culture.

Despite this, and a formal complaint filed with the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA), STI’s website remains online four years later, perpetuating inaccurate information and raising funds in the name of our communities without any consent or direct benefit to them.

Such practices must be called out, especially as we approach high-profile events like the 2025 World Adventure Travel Summit, which will be held in Puerto Natales, home to the Fundación Pueblo Kawésqar. While the event promises to promote respectful and conscious tourism, it is crucial that the international tourism operators in attendance recognize the abusive practices of organizations like STI and Legacy Fund, which for years have maintained a caricature of "sustainable tourism" at the expense of local communities. For more information on the summit, you can visit this link.

Unlike these external initiatives, the true cultural tourism projects of the Kawésqar are managed directly by the communities themselves. Through platforms like Bahía Voces (www.pueblokawesqar.org/bahiavoces), we offer authentic experiences where visitors can learn about our culture firsthand, including activities such as boat trips, hiking, traditional cuisine, and the opportunity to engage with our history and traditions.

It is essential that sustainable tourism be more than just a marketing label; it must be a genuine commitment to the communities that open their doors to visitors. We invite all those interested to support indigenous communities directly and to be critical of organizations that position themselves as intermediaries, especially those from abroad that exploit Chile's rich cultural landscape, ultimately damaging the identity of local communities and negatively impacting the territories where tourism takes place.