User:LuisCG11/Project Parrochia

This is the user sandbox of LuisCG11. A user sandbox is a subpage made for keeping drafts.

This user's draft：This is the draft of the Chilean chapter for the Expression of Interest to host Wikimania; draft based on Wikimania:Expressions of Interest/2024/Central Eastern Europe, Poland, Cracow and Wikimania:Expressions of Interest/2025/Nairobi, Kenya; currently in the process of adapting, rewriting and restructuring the document.

Main article: Wikimania:Wikimania:Expressions of Interest/2027/Chile

Expression of interest: Chile

Abstract/description

Santiago de Chile

Proposal to host Wikimania 2024 in Chile, a country with a dynamic cultural heritage and modern infrastructure.
Is proposed that the main venue would be hold in Santiago, one of the biggest cities of South America, offers excellent connectivity within the region and to the rest of the world.
Santiago is the largest city in Chile, a hub for business, culture, and tourism, attracting millions of visitors annually.
The city has experience in hosting significant international events, showcasing its organizational capabilities.
Santiago's historic center, including landmarks like the Plaza de Armas and La Moneda Palace, reflects its rich cultural history.
Santiago is home to several prestigious universities, including the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, fostering a deep commitment to knowledge and education.
Santiago de Chile is also home to international institutions, including the offices of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Regional Office for South America of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Additionally, the city hosts national offices for major industries like Google and IBM.
Santiago embraces diversity, inclusion, and a welcoming atmosphere, making it an ideal location for a global and diverse Wikimedia community gathering.
The bid highlights Chile’s tricontinental nature, encompassing its territories in South America, Oceania (Easter Island), and Antarctica, offering a unique opportunity to explore diverse cultural and geographical perspectives.
Emphasis on regional collaboration within Latin America and beyond, drawing from the strengths and creativity of volunteers across these territories.
The event aims to foster strong collaboration and provide a unique learning opportunity that highlights Chile's tricontinental character and regional diversity.

Organizers

Core Organizing Team

Luis Carrasco (m:User:LuisCG11) – Board Member of Wikimedia Chile – Project Leader
- Governance Board Member of Wikimedia Chile (since 2021)
- Languages: Template:Country data spa, Template:Country data ing

Advisory Committee

In addition, the team is supported by Advisory Committee:

TBA

Institutional advisory commitee

TBA

Requirements

Santiago, the Open City – our host city

Historical Significance: Santiago is one of the oldest cities in Chile, founded in the 16th century, and has played a central role in the country's history as its capital.
Geographical Location: The city is located in a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains, making it a key location in South America.
Cultural and Academic Importance: Santiago is a major center for academic, economic, cultural, and artistic life in Chile, with numerous universities, museums, and cultural institutions.
Recognition and Awards: Santiago is recognized as a vital cultural hub in Latin America and has been acknowledged for its rich heritage and vibrant cultural scene.
Hosting Major Events: The city has a strong track record of hosting significant international events, such as the Pan American Games and various United Nations conferences.

<gallery heights="170" widths="170"> Galería de imágenes de Santiago de Chile </gallery>

Venue + lodging

Venue proposal #1 – TBA

Location and Significance.
Reputation.
Facilities: The venue features main halls with varying capacities.
- Foyer.
- Event Flexibility.
Hybrid Events: presential + transmission
Accessibility: Public transport + infraestructure for people with disabilities

<gallery heights="170" widths="170"> Galería de imágenes de venue #1 </gallery>

Venue proposal #2 – TBA

Location and Significance.
Reputation.
Facilities: The venue features main halls with varying capacities.
- Foyer.
- Event Flexibility.
Hybrid Events: presential + transmission
Accessibility: Public transport + infraestructure for people with disabilities

<gallery heights="170" widths="170"> Galería de imágenes de venue #2 </gallery>

Lodging

Santiago is one of the major cities in Chile and a key metropolis in the South American region. It also serves as a significant tourist hub, with millions of visitors arriving each year.^[1] Consequently, Santiago has developed an extensive network of hotels and other lodging options throughout the city.

Hotels

Currently, there are over 250 hotel objects within the limits of Santiago^[2]. Out of those:

XX have more than 100 rooms,
XX have more than 250 rooms, and
XX have more than 450 rooms available

Create an interactive map of hotels, venues and airport

Travel + visas

Travel

Santiago Airport (terminal 2)

Chile is located on the western edge of South America, making it a gateway to the continent and an accessible destination from various parts of the world. Santiago, the capital, is just 9 to 13 hours away from major North American cities and well-connected to major global airline hubs. Santiago has direct flights to key destinations such as Miami (14 direct flights/week, Oneworld presence), New York (7 direct flights/week, Star Alliance presence), Madrid (10 direct flights/week, Oneworld presence), Sydney (XX direct flights/week, Qantas), Paris (14 direct flights/week, Air France) and São Paulo (28 direct flights/week, Star Alliance presence). Additionally, Santiago's connections with hubs in Europe, Oceania, and other parts of Latin America provide quick and easy access from anywhere in the world.

LATAM Airlines

LATAM Airlines is the largest airline in Latin America, connecting the region with over 145 destinations across 26 countries on 5 continents. In addition to its extensive route network, LATAM offers code-share agreements with several global airlines, allowing passengers to reach destinations worldwide:

Europe:

Asia

Oceania

Template:Country data au Qantas Airlines

Americas

Budget airlines – Sky Airline and JetSMART

Sky Airline is a Chilean ultra-low-cost carrier with its head office in Santiago, Chile, and a strong presence throughout South America. It operates flights to various domestic destinations within Chile as well as international routes across South America. Sky Airline connects:

Santiago with several major cities across Chile, including Antofagasta, Concepción, and Punta Arenas,
5 countries in South America, including Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay,
Seasonal routes to popular vacation destinations.

JetSMART is another Chilean ultra-low-cost carrier, founded in 2016, and it has quickly become a key player in the region. It offers affordable flights to:

Numerous domestic destinations within Chile, such as La Serena, Temuco, and Puerto Montt,
International routes to Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia,
A network of regional flights within South America, connecting smaller cities directly without passing through hubs.

Visas and diplomatic presence

Schengen Area Visa Policy

Visa

Currently, citizens of 96 countries can enter Chile without the need for an entry visa for short stays (for tourism or business purposes). Citizens of other countries do require a visa to enter Chile, depending on the agreements between Chile and their home country.^[3]^[4] The visa policy of Chile varies depending on the visitor's nationality and the purpose of their visit.

Chile's visa process is relatively straightforward, with a high approval rate. For those needing a visa, our team will provide each prospective Wikimania participant with a valid invitation letter to support their application. The visa application process typically takes around 20 business days, though it can take longer during peak times or if additional documentation is required by the Chilean consulate.^[5]

Diplomatic presence

The Republic of Chile currently maintains 73 embassies around the globe, as well as numerous consular offices in key international cities.

Santiago, as the capital of Chile, is home to a significant number of diplomatic representatives from nations across all continents.

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Currency information

The Chilean peso (ISO 4217: CLP, symbol: $) is the currency of Chile. It is subdivided into one hundred centavos, although centavo coins are no longer in circulation. The coin denominations currently in use are: 10 pesos, 50 pesos, 100 pesos, and 500 pesos. The banknotes used are: 1,000 pesos, 2,000 pesos, 5,000 pesos, 10,000 pesos, and 20,000 pesos.

Currency exchange rates
Currency	Exchange rate
1 EUR	940
1 USD	830
1 CHF	860
1 GBP	1070
100 JPY	7,50
1 AUD	540
1 CAD	610
1 SEK	82
1 NOK	75

Facilities + services

Accessibility

Since 2016, Chilean construction law has required all new buildings to be designed to be accessible for people with disabilities.^[6] Additionally, older buildings in Santiago have been adapted accordingly.

Major travel hubs (such as Estación Central and Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport) and public transport systems (RED and Metro de Santiago) are accessible for people with limited mobility and those in wheelchairs, and many of them also have facilities for the blind or visually impaired.
Santiago’s cultural institutions and most of its landmarks are fully accessible, including La Moneda Palace, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center (GAM), and San Cristóbal Hill, among others.
While it is generally easy to move around Santiago's historic center, tourists with disabilities should be mindful of uneven cobblestone pavements in some areas.

All Wikimania venues will be fully accessible and volunteers will receive training in helping people with special needs.

Neurodiversity

Large events can be overstimulating, which especially affects neurodivergent people. This is why we want to be very mindful about organizing Wikimania as a sensory friendly event:

designated quiet rooms, in which attendees can rest, with dim lightning, fidgets/sensory toys, comfortable places to rest,
sensory friendly conference arrangement, with dim lightning and with comfortable sound levels,
large sessions and keynotes will be streamed online, so that attendees can make a decision whether they want to participate in them in the main conference room, or in a more calm/private surroundings.

Internet connection

Santiago is covered by LTE+ and 5G networks from all the major telecom providers in Chile. The city center offers free Wi-Fi to everyone. It is common in Chile for restaurants, public transport, coffee shops to provide guests with Wi-Fi, and it is also standard in hotel lobbies and rooms.^[7]

Both venues we proposed above offer fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections (up to 400 Mb/s) and wired internet in the conference rooms (up to 2 Gb/s).

Public transportation

A map of Santiago metro system. (crear nuevo mapa que incluya trenes y que sea más atractivo)

Tarjeta Bip!

Santiago, the capital of Chile, has a well-developed and extensive public transportation system that serves millions of residents and visitors each day. The city's transportation network includes the Metro, buses, and a growing system of bike lanes and shared scooters.

The public transportation system in Santiago uses the Bip! card for fare payment. The Bip! card can be used on the Metro, buses, and even some suburban trains.

The Metro de Santiago is the backbone of the city's public transportation system. As of 2024, the Metro consists of 7 lines (Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, and 6) that cover a total of over 140 kilometers, with more than 130 stations across the metropolitan area. The Metro is known for its punctuality, cleanliness, and safety, and it operates from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM on weekdays, opening at 6:30 on Saturdays and 8:00 on Sundays and holidays. The Metro is also integrated with other forms of public transportation, making it easy to transfer between buses and trains.

In 2024, the Metro continues to expand with plans for new lines and extensions to existing ones. Notably, Line 7 is under construction and expected to open by 2027, further connecting the eastern and western parts of the city.

The bus system in Santiago, known as Transantiago until it was rebranded as Red Metropolitana de Movilidad (RED) in recent years, is an integral part of the city's public transport. The bus network includes thousands of buses operating on hundreds of routes that reach every corner of the city. In 2024, the RED system emphasizes the use of electric buses, with a goal to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in the city. Buses are equipped with modern amenities, including air conditioning and Wi-Fi, and are fully accessible to people with disabilities.

The RED buses operate under a unified fare system, allowing passengers to transfer seamlessly between buses and the Metro using the same Bip! card, a contactless smart card used to pay fares.

Santiago has been expanding its bike lane network and promoting the use of micromobility options such as shared bicycles and electric scooters. By 2024, Santiago boasts over 400 kilometers of dedicated bike lanes, encouraging residents to use bicycles as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. The city also supports several bike-sharing and scooter-sharing programs, which are widely available throughout the metropolitan area.

Safety + security

In general, Santiago is a safe destination. The city has moderate crime rates, a visible police presence, good and affordable medical services, and welcoming and friendly locals. The increase in tourism in recent years has fostered a tolerant and vibrant atmosphere in the city. Civic services in Santiago are well-equipped to handle the challenges that come with being a major tourist destination, from the occasional instance of petty theft to assisting with minor injuries, which rarely occur and are usually related to outdoor activities in the surrounding areas.

LGBTQ rights & safety

References

[[Category:Wikimania 2027 expressions of interest]] [[Category:Wikimania 2028 expressions of interest]]

[1] Movimiento turístico internacional - Sernatur

[2] Government registry – CWOH

[3] Consular Services - Chile

[4] tabla resumen - Consulado de Chile

[5] Permanencia Transitoria permit - Chile

[6] GUÍA DE SOLUCIONES ACCESIBLES PARA ESPACIOS PÚBLICOS Y VIVIENDAS (2018) - MINVU

[7] Internet usage in Chile - Statistics & Facts | Statista

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