ARGENTINA: Ezeiza And Aeroparque Airports Reached US$246.8 Million

The arrival of foreign tourists to Argentina via all means of transport increased 7.7 per cent in November 2014 compared with the same month last year, according to the latest official figures.

The total number of visitors for the first 11 months of 2014 was 13.9 per cent higher than for the same period of 2013, finds Argentina’s National Institute for the Promotion of Tourism.

“This growth is based on the quality and professionalism of the public and private sectors, the development of our products, and the promotion of our country abroad,” underlined Enrique Meyer, the minister of tourism of Argentina.

Furthermore, the total income received by Buenos Aires’ two main airports, Ezeiza and Aeroparque, reached US$246.8 million in November last year, with an average daily spend per passenger of US$94.

Overnight stays by foreign tourists increased by 11.9 per cent to 2.6 million, and the average number of nights spent by tourists in Argentina was 11.6, representing a year on year increase of 9.4 per cent.

The president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, and the minister of tourism, Gustavo Santos, have presented the Tourism National Plan for the next four years.

The plan foresees to increase up to 50 per cent the arrival of international tourists to Argentina until 2020, reaching nine millions of foreign tourists a year.

This would mean an income of almost one billion US dollars per year, and would allow Argentina to strengthen tourism as the main service of exportation of the country.

The National Government has set as main goal to double the United States and Canada market, increase the European, and develop long distance markets, emphasizing on China, Russia and India.

At regional level, the purpose is to recover the Brazilian market, deepen the border and make the Andean and Mexican grow.

At the national level it is expected an increasing of the 47 per cent, achieving the 70 million domestic tourists.

The Argentina Tourism National Plan will allow Argentina to “generate 300,000 new job positions during the four years across the whole value chain of the touristic industry, innovating, applying new technologies, endorsing entrepreneurs and promoting the training and quality in every Argentinian destination,” explained minister Santos.

The minister highlighted the importance of this plan, by which: “Argentina will reinsert itself through tourism in the world.

“We have set achievable goals over the global prediction of growth, because we are convinced that if the nation, provinces and municipalities and the whole tourist sector work together, we will make it,” he added.

“Definitely, the government is looking forward to endorse the competitively and sustainability of the tourism sector; increase the investment and development of regional economies; promote jobs creation in Argentina and increase domestic tourism.”

The travel and tourism industry in Argentina makes an important contribution to the national economy and is a powerful path towards territorial development, given its ability to generate decent work and wealth across the entire country,” said President Fernández.

The President pointed to “economic development with social inclusion and the conservation of heritage” as the cornerstone of Argentina’s tourism policy. “We are driven by the vision of becoming South America’s tourism destination of reference for our diversity and quality of supply, based on the balanced development of the habitats and identities of our people,” she said.

Meeting with the President on the occasion of the presentation of Argentina’s new Marketing Plan 2012-2015, UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, and WTTC President&CEO, David Scowsill, presented an Open Letter, which calls on global leaders to support tourism as a driver of economic growth and development.

“International tourist arrivals to Argentina have almost doubled over the past decade making the country the most visited destination in South America, with international tourism accounting for over US$5 billion a year in exports,” said Mr. Rifai, “This is due not only to the country’s enviable natural and cultural resources, but also thanks to the correct tourism policies and the political support awarded to the sector at the highest level. This was evidenced in 2010 when the President created the first Ministry of Tourism in Argentina, and again today on accepting the Open Letter.”

Mr. Scowsill said: “Latin America is a strong engine of growth to the global travel and tourism industry. The new Marketing Plan for Argentina will ensure that Argentina is one of the leading destinations driving this growth.

It was an honor to meet with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Her acceptance of the Open Letter underlines Argentina’s commitment to support the development of the travel and tourism