Argentina will seek to attract tourism investments with an investment law for this sector that includes tax exemptions for all companies that decide to settle in the country, and the granting of loans at very soft rates.
The Secretary for Tourism Promotion of the South American country, Yanina Martínez, explained the new strategy on the occasion of her presence at the International Tourism Fair of Madrid (Fitur) that is being held these days in the Spanish capital.
The new Law “will accelerate the arrival of investments”, since it will be “very drinkable for all countries” as a result of the exchange rate that makes the country a “very attractive place not only for tourism, but also to invest” added the executive secretary of the National Institute for Tourism Promotion (Inprotur), Ricardo Sosa, who also participated in the interview.
To stimulate investment, Martínez stressed that one of the axes of the management of the government of the Argentine president, Alberto Fernández, is to “guarantee” and “consolidate” legal certainty.
Sosa explained the purpose of the Government to generate an impact in the 24 provinces of the country, which are already presenting all their investment needs in the sector to the Ministry of Tourism.
He defined as “very wide” the diversity of investment offer in the national territory, since there are northern regions receive financing for `glamping´ (luxury tourism in natural areas) and other places, such as Bariloche (south) in the funds they go to five-star hotels.
Historical figures for domestic tourism
Although Argentina currently works with 27 countries abroad, the Spanish and Chinese markets are part of the priority destinations to promote the South American country, a promotion that becomes more important after the impact generated by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The pandemic has not only taken lives, but companies,” lamented Sosa, who placed the decrease in tourist income in the country at 70% since the start of the health emergency.
As fundamental pillars for the Argentine tourism sector, the head of Improtur highlighted “domestic consumption, tourism investment and receptive (international) tourism, which, before covid-19, constituted the fourth export complex in the country.”
Martínez highlighted the role of domestic tourism as a key element in the recovery of the sector “which today is reaching historical peaks”, as a result of initiatives such as the “Pre-travel Program” that allows the “refund in credit” of 50% of the value of your contract.
“This meant that people could use that credit to buy another trip, hire a tour guide or eat in a restaurant, and an economic impact of 99,000 million Argentine pesos,” clarified the secretary of tourism promotion, who remarked that, now , “the largest number of tourist destinations is almost at 100% occupancy.”
Towards “inclusive growth”
The new commitment of the Argentine tourism sector will be the promotion of popular festivals in the north of the country, such as those of Catamarca, Santiago del Estero or Salta.
It will also seek to promote “federal and sustainable tourism” that reflects an “improvement in the tourism competitiveness of each of these destinations, making it sustainable and inclusive,” Martínez said.
Regarding receptive tourism, the secretary mentioned as a strength, when it comes to attracting international travelers, the offer of natural spaces that the Argentine territory has.
“In this pandemic situation, today the trend is for tourists to look for nature destinations and Argentina, due to its immensity, has many,” he stressed.
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