MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tourist arrivals to Argentina increase by 16.6%

The number of tourists visiting Argentina ? those arriving at Ezeiza international airport ? rose 16.6% in the second quarter, while the average stay rose 14.1% and spending 23.1%, the Indec census bureau reported this week.

European tourists were the largest group of visitors, accounting for 22% of arrivals, a rise of 15.9% compared to the same period last year, followed by Brazilians, who accounted for 19% of arrivals, an increase of 37.3% over the same period last year.

Tourists from Chile and the United States each accounted for 15% of arrivals while tourists from the rest of Latin America accounted for 16%.

The average stay rose from 11.6 nights to 13.2 nights, a rise of 14.1% while the average amount spent on lodging in the quarter was 79.7 dollars.

The Federal Capital had 55% of total overnight stays, followed by Patagonia with 10%, Eastern provinces 8%, central provinces 6% and northern provinces 4%.

According to the Indec survey, 46% of tourists said that they had organized their own trip while 28% opted for tour packages.

The Tourism Secretariat also reported that total tourist spending in the first half of the year was 1.06 billion US dollars, and that some 566 million US dollars is being invested in the construction of 200 hotels, mostly in Patagonia, Misiones and the northern part of the country. (BAH).-