MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina targeting 7 million foreign tourists in 2016

Cruise Infinity calling Buenos Aires port

Three million and a half foreign tourists will be visiting Argentina by the end of 2007 totaling 3.2 billion US dollars, according to the country's Tourism Under Secretary Daniel Aguilera.

At the current rate of growth Argentina expects to be receiving seven million foreign tourists in the ten years time, added Aguilera on his return from a tourism industry operators meeting in Miami. "This is the first time Argentina has a long term plan, extending from 2006 to 2016, and even when we've had an impressive growth in the last few years, we still have international air connectivity problems and significant challenges in our highways and railroads systems", admitted Aguillera. "We've requested international loans from multilateral credit organizations to help us improve signaling of highways and access to cities and other tourist attractions". Aguilera said that a key step in improving long term planning for the industry was the creation of the Tourism Promotion Institute which has been tasked with collecting data and making projects for the future. "We are also promoting tourism through fiscal incentives (tax deductions) for those companies organizing fairs, congresses and exhibits in Argentina; a proposal under consideration by Congress", indicated Aguilera.