Winter holidays: tourism movement expected to exceed 5.5 million people

The Argentine Tourism Observatory (OAT) estimated the arrival of 5.5 million people to winter tourist destinations, according to the first projections based on its own survey that also mentioned Salta, Bariloche, Ushuaia, San Martín de los Andes, Santiago del Estero, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca and Mendoza as the most chosen tourist destinations. We are coming off a record summer season, above historic 2022 levels. We expect to sustain this trend during the winter, consolidating the growth of inbound tourism, which was above the pre-pandemic during the last quarter, “said the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Matías Lammens.The most chosen tourist destinations during the month of July were Salta, Santiago del Estero, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Mendoza, Buenos Aires City, Tandil, San Carlos de Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes and Ushuaia. In addition, according to the survey carried out by the agency, “there is a massive arrival of tourists from Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and the United States, who show a preference for the snow product.” The president of the Argentine Chamber of Tourism (CAT), Gustavo Hani, said that “the winter holidays confirm once again that 2023 will be a great year for the tourism industry.” “According to the projections of the OAT, we will have a winter season with very good results, product of both the movement of domestic tourism and the growth of inbound tourism,” said the official. For this winter season, Aerolineas Argentinas made available 7% more seats than in 2019 and will maintain 151 regional frequencies to Buenos Aires and 17 weekly frequencies from Sao Paulo to winter destinations. For its part, the Ministry of Transport of the Nation reported that more than 67 thousand people sold out the tickets to make long-distance trips by train between July 14 and 30. Mar del Plata, Rosario, Junín, Córdoba and Tucumán were the most chosen destinations. So, according to the first projections, it is estimated the arrival of 5.5 million domestic tourists during this season and 1.5 million tourists from abroad in the winter months. According to official reports, 3.5 million international tourists entered Argentina during the first half of the year, which generated an estimated economic impact of 2700 million dollars for our regional economies.

Original source in Spanish