Tourism up in Buenos Aires with 933,000 International Visitors in the First Half.

The period January to June 2018 saw a 3% increase in international arrivals, led by Brazil, the US, the UK and France. The increase is expected to continue in the coming months thanks to improved air connections and a more favourable exchange rate for international visitors.

International tourism to the City of Buenos Aires saw a 3% increase in the first half of 2018, with 933,000 international arrivals by air. The city tourist board's report also shows a 1% increase in income generated by international visitors to the city (US$ 842 million) and a 1.3% increase in the total number of overnight stays (8.5 million).

The city welcomed 227,000 Brazilians (up 2%), 206,000 Europeans (up 2.1%), 127,000 visitors from the US and Canada (up 6.3%), 82,000 Chileans (down 5.3%), 16,000 Uruguayans (down 11%), 188,000 visitors from the rest of the Americas (up 2%) and 86,000 from the rest of the world (up 19.1%). One of the main motors for the increase in visits has been new air connections, with 66 new international flights a week launched between January 2017 and May 2018, from destinations including Auckland, Amsterdam, Addis Ababa, Barcelona, London and New York.

The trend is expected to continue in the coming months. The main travel platforms saw a 30% incrvease in flight bookings to the Argentine capital for July 2018 to June 2019, according to figures obtained by the city tourist board.

Gonzalo Robredo, president of the Buenos Aires City Tourist Board, said: "Buenos Aires is seeing constant growth as a tourist destination and this is fundamental to the city's economy. Through a communication campaign and through forging connections with travel agents around the world we aim to welcome more and more international visitors."

Improved air connections

The first half of 2018 saw the incorporation of 27 new flights per week to Buenos Aires, which means an extra 5,816 seats every week. The new direct flights arrive from London (Norwegian), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Salvador (Latam), Porto Alegre (Aerolíneas Argentinas), Toronto (Air Canada) and Madrid (Aerolíneas Argentinas)