International Tourism Plunges In Argentina
International tourism in May plunged 15% from the same month a year ago, making this the eight consecutive annual decline since October.
Last month’s numbers were also bad, but they were tempered by news that outbound tourism was up almost 17% as more Argentines travelled abroad. That wasn’t the case in May because the number of Argentines who left the country fell 5.2% on the year.
The number of visitors to Argentina fell to 151,054 in May, compared with 177,617 a year ago.
While here, tourists spent around $185 million, down almost 25% from a year ago, the national statistics agency, INDEC, reported Wednesday.
In May the average tourist spent about $80.5 day, about 12% less than a year ago.
INDEC didn’t give detailed country-by-country spending data as it has in previous reports.
The average tourist stayed in the country for about 15 days, up 4.5% from a year ago.
*Tourism brings in about $4 billion annually to the Argentine economy, according to official estimates.INDEC’s measurement is based on the number of visitors who arrive to the country via Ezeiza, or EZE, the airport located outside Buenos Aires. About half of the country’s tourists arrive through EZE.
Popularity: 1% [?]
This is no surprise. When I was in Buenos Aires in May, there were three attempted ripoffs against me, twice by mustard attack. During the two trips I had taken there before I had no incidents. If the security situation does not turn around I expect visits will continue to fall.
I’m in the tourism (and transport) industry here in BsAs, and have noticed a big drop off in traffic and tourism. Everyone I know in the industry is hurting from a double whammy, swine flu and low tourist season. Florida street seems dead right now. And about the above comment with the crime, I have heard several stories about the mustard scam, stolen cameras, rigged cab meters and counterfeit money as change, so that’s certainly not a plus. Most of the tourists I take back to EZE have been victims of some petty crime of ripoff. I’ve heard of some fares as low as $297 R/T from NY including taxes, so that should help.
Fred
http://www.silverstarcar.com
That’s because all the tourist are getting robbed in B.A., if the criminals in the street don’t get you, the ones that “work” for the airport/government will with there shake downs for bribes.
Fred, I like to know which airline is flying from NY for $297, everything I see is $1200