2.7 million tourists traveled across Argentina over the long weekend, with many destinations reaching 100% occupancy rates, according to the Tourism Ministry. The number of tourists increased by 4% compared to last year’s Easter holidays, which had been boosted by a government travel program.
Destinations in Salta, Jujuy, Misiones, Entre Ríos, Córdoba, Mendoza, and Patagonia had an almost 100% occupancy rate. The province with the most tourists across the board was San Juan, with an average occupancy rate of 97%.
The record marked an increase in spending, too. According to the Argentine Chamber of Commerce (CAME), tourists spent 18% more this long weekend than last year, with a total AR$ 95.957 million— an average of AR$ 10,650 per day. The increases take inflation into account.
“We reached these records through a growth in international tourism,” said Matías Lammens, Argentina’s Tourism Minister. Travelers from Uruguay and Chile poured into the Argentine destinations — especially Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Córdoba. Patagonian towns also registered a high flow of Brazilian tourists.
Last year, tourism numbers had been boosted by the PreViaje program, under which the government gave Argentine applicants a credit worth 50% of their travel costs (such as plane tickets and booked accommodation) in order to further spend on food, activities, and other specific travel services. The program was not made available for this long weekend.
“The data shows that tourists interests are becoming more and more federal,” said Gustavo Hani, President of the Argentine Tourism Chamber (CAT), alluding to tourism being more widely distributed across the country and less concentrated in its bigger cities.
Cities and towns that reached a 100% occupancy rate include Chascomús (Province of Buenos Aires), Tafí del Valle (Tucumán), Tinogasta, Antofagasta, El Rodeo, Fiambala, and El Alto (Catamarca), Puerto Gaboto (Santa Fe), Calingasta, Iglesia and Valle Fértil (San Juan), and Termas de Bernardo Larroudé, Intendente Alvear, and Victorica (La Pampa).
-with information from Télam