MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Buenos Aires forecasts record cruise season

Argentina's 2005/06 cruise season, which promises to be a record, began Sunday with the arrival in Buenos Aires of the Norwegian flagged Nordnorge with 350 tourists and a crew of 75.

Buenos Aires City sources forecast that an estimated 100.000 tourists and 75 cruise vessels will be calling in Argentina's capital which is rapidly becoming one of the main attractions of the south Atlantic.

"This season we expect 75 cruise vessels, 40% over last year, which means an estimated 100.000 visitors", said Captain Carlos Villareal head of the Argentine Coast Guard River Plate Traffic Control Office. In the last season, 04/05, the number of vessels totalled 55 with 65.000 tourists and 10.000 crewmembers.

"We're particularly encouraged because this year the season which normally begins in early November has started in mid October", added Captain Villareal.

The season is forecasted to extend until April 12, 2006 with the "Millenium" and its 3.5000 passengers, being the largest vessel to call at the specially built cruise terminal "Quinquela Martin" next January 21.

Nordnorge arrived from Bergen, Norway and Monday night left for Ushuaia before heading for the Antarctic.

Cruise tourism in the City of Buenos Aires has been growing consistently since 1996 and has become an important source of revenue for the tourism industry.

In 1996/97 the number of vessels calling in Buenos Aires was 26, which now has jumped to 75 an 188% increase.

The Tourism Office of Buenos Aires estimates each cruise visitor spends anywhere between 100 and 300 US dollars, particularly because foreigners love shopping in fancy garments shops and leather goods. Shopping is combined with the traditional city tour, tango shows and visit to an estancia with gauchos, barbecue and horse breaking.