MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Record winter tourist season in Argentina

The Argentine Tourism Office reports an excellent winter season with record numbers compared to a year ago. With 7,350,000 tourists, a 15% increase over the 6,400,000 in 2002, “the season exceeded our most optimistic expectations”, reads an official report indicating that the South, followed by the Northern provinces proved the main attractions.

Ski resorts such as Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes in Patagonia hosted 20% more tourists than last season followed by Las Leñas in Mendoza and Chapelco in Neuquen that worked with an average occupancy rate of 95%.

Bariloche actually attracted 80,000 tourists and 7,300 dared visit Ushuaia in the extreme south of Argentina.

In the Northern province of Salta the number of tourists reached 100,000, 30% over the previous season and in Jujuy occupancy was 90%, which represents a 15% increase.

Hotels and lodges in the world famous Iguazú falls in Misiones province were fully booked, similarly in Santiago del Estero known for its hot springs. Another 300,000 tourists flocked to Córdoba province, and Mendoza was also fully booked.

The Atlantic coast with its summer resorts, Mar del Plata, Cariló, Pinamar, Villa Gesell, received an exceptional number of visitors particularly during week ends.