Buenos Aires arrivals on the rise in 2017

Buenos Aires welcomed increasing numbers of North American travelers in 2017, visiting the Argentinian capital for both business and leisure.

According to the Entity of Tourism for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, an estimated 1.55 million international tourists arrived by air from January to October 2017 through the city’s major airports, Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). During the 10-month period, 67,000 more tourists came through EZE and AEP airports, representing a year-over-year increase of 4.5 per cent.

Over 183,000 of these visitors were North Americans from the United States and Canada, coming to explore Buenos Aires for business and leisure and opting for luxury four and five-star properties; this property category also saw a six per cent increase in occupancy from international tourists in 2017, the organization said.

Tourism numbers from Canada are also likely to increase following Argentina’s recent suspension of reciprocity fees for Canadian travelers, which went into effect on Jan. 1.

According to the tourism organization, the expansion in tourist visits is part of a strong cycle, with 15 months of sustained growth, a pattern not seen since before 2012.

New Buenos Aires hotels set to open in 2018 include the 132-room Ker San Telmo, located in the city’s growing San Telmo neighbourhood; and the 113-room MGallery by Sofitel, the second AccorHotels property in the city and the company’s twelfth in Argentina.

Throughout 2018, the city will play host to a selection of international events, including Art Basel from Sept. 11 – 16, making Buenos Aires the first partner in the Art Basel Cities initiative; and the Summer Youth Olympic Games from Oct. 6 – 18.

For more information on Buenos Aires, visit travel.buenosaires.gob.ar.