Buenos Aires Herald 
Today, the Ministry of Tourism launched the fourth “PreViaje”, a travel incentive program that encourages Argentines to holiday within the country by returning part of their travel expenses in the form of vouchers. Authorities are expecting a million tourists to travel with the program.
The program was made official through Resolution 107/2023, published today in the Official Bulletin.
“After three successful editions in which more than 6 million Argentines were mobilized, the fourth edition of PreViaje starts”, tweeted Tourism Minister Matías Lammens. “As of today, providers will be able to register, and as of next Wednesday they will be able to start buying and uploading their trips in previaje.gob.ar”.
Undersecretary of Tourism Promotion, Lisandro Pérez Losinno, told Télam Radio this morning that the Previaje 4 is expected to incentivize approximately one million tourists to travel in the low season, stimulating AR$15 billion in purchases (US$69 million at the official rate and US$38 million at the MEP rate) with a total economic impact of AR$50 billion.
Another aim of the program is to provide an incentive for service providers to formally register their business, according to Pérez Losinno.
“[It] generates revenue for the state and results in the overall fiscal cost of the program being very low,” the official said.
“We are betting on breaking or reducing what are, at times, considerable pockets of informality, especially in some of the activities of the tourism chain, such as gastronomy.”
Previous PreViaje programs have provided a strong boost to regional economies, he added. The fourth edition is timed to boost national demand for tourism services in the low season.
In the PreViaje program, the government gives holidaymakers credit worth 50% of their expenditures on tourist services to spend during their travels.
The program is open to those over the age of 18 who are resident in Argentina and have a Unique Tax Identification Code (CUIT) or Unique Labor Identification Code (CUIL). Those wishing to participate have to identify themselves through level 3 of the Mi Argentina app.
Only advance purchases made with registered tourist service providers, duly invoiced and paid in full, are covered by the program. Vouchers issued through the program are valid until October 31.
Purchases worth less than AR$1,000 are not covered, and participants must spend at least AR$10,000 to participate. The entire trip must take place in Argentina. Staycationing is out, too: accommodation in the place where the participant lives isn’t covered.
Travel agency, transport and accommodation fees are capped at AR$70,000. Tourists can also claim an additional AR$5,000 in other services.
“With this new edition, there will be no low season in Argentina,” Lammens said.
To enter the program, trips must be booked and uploaded between April 19-25, and travel dates must be between May 24 and June 30.
—Télam
