Hotel Entrepreneurs and Tourism Development. A Relationship of the Interest. Chile, 1930-1950

Abstract

This article studies the history of hotel entrepreneurs in Chile between 1930 and 1950, highlighting their participation in the development of tourism. Background is presented on hotel growth, its links with tourism and the Asociación de Propietarios Hoteleros y Similares de Chile (APH) created in 1929 is analyzed. As a result, it is noted that the strategy of the APH was to link the development of tourism with the growth of the hotel industry, fighting against a series of measures that they considered to be detrimental to their sector, such as social legislation and taxes. These disputes led to the articulation of the hoteliers’ union and its pressure for State to support the construction of hotels.