MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Breaking News.

Argentine "invasion" in Brazil

Almost 1,8 million Argentines are expected to spend their summer holidays in Brazil according to Brazilian Tourist Board officials. "Of the five million tourists we expect until mid March, 1,8 million are Argentines", said a spokesperson for the Brazilian Tourist Board, adding that "the favourable exchange rate, and our unique coast makes it most attractive for our neighbors". The "invasion" already recorded 115.000 tourists the first week of January, and is expected to be 20% above last year's season particularly intense in the last fortnight of February with the Carnival celebrations. In spite of the negative image of Brazil concerning crime and urban violence, Argentines are by far Brazil's main visitors. With the Argentine peso equivalent to a US dollar and the Brazilian currency weakened to two Reales for one US dollar, prices are significantly attractive for Argentine and foreign tourists.

Patagonian tourism promotion

Aiming at year round tourism, Argentine Patagonian provinces will be investing over 30 million US dollars in upgrading and promoting several locations in the so called "lakes corridor". Half the money for specific projects will be supplied by the Interamerican Development Bank while the rest must come from matching funds, both federal and provincial, Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut. Among the places to be advanced in the cordilleran area both for winter and summer recreation are Bariloche, Llao Llao, San Martín and Junín de los Andes, El Bolsón, including the development of thermal waters in Lahuencó. Patagonian provinces are interested in promoting tourism as a source of revenue and employment, insisting that the unique wilderness in the lakes corridor is one of the few places in the world that remains "unharmed by man, machine and contamination".

Menem announces marriage

Former Argentine president Carlos Menem announced that his marriage to former Miss Universe, and CNN news presenter, Cecilia Bolocco will take place "this year". The announcement was made in United States where the couple spent a short vacation and participated in the taking office celebrations of incoming US president George