Tens of thousands of Argentines took advantage of the summer break to plan their vacations. This 2025, however, the favorite destinations were not the same as always. The exchange difference with the bordering countries, more benign with Argentine tourists after many years, led to a few chose to cross the border.
Meanwhile, others chose destinations in the interior of the country, looking for other attractions in addition to the beaches. In that context, the sector that is going through a difficult summer is Atlantic coastespecially, the Buenos Aires. The region that for years was the preferred point to vacation, and which is synonymous with summer in the country, is going through a difficult summer era in which, although contingents of tourists arrived, the money spent by them and the time of stay were reduced considerably. This, for locations whose main industry is tourism and that bet a large part of their chips to have a good summer to enhance their income, means a hard blow.
In low The Economic Federation of the Province of Buenos Aires (FEBA) located in 75 percent the average hotel occupancy between the Atlantic coast, the mountains and rural tourism, according to the information of the Bonaerense Ministry of Tourism and the municipalities. The destinations with the highest level of occupation are those of “closeness”, such as Chascomús. This is an radiography of how, although there is a tourist movement, there was a change of habits. The long vacation with biweekly stays have left short getaways, which imply much less expenses. In addition, beach destinations lose ground compared to others closest, such as the aforementioned chascomús, which offer other attractions in addition to the beach.
“Consulting with the different tourism places in the province, the forecast for the season is moderate, although there is optimism. The expectation is much, the spa cities as Cariló, Valeria del Mar, Pinamar and Villa Gesell They showed a certain increase in occupation in relation to the last season. In other more popular places such as Mar del Plata, the average occupation is 65% for this first half of January, ”he said Camilo Alberto Kahalepresident of Feba.
These good omens, however, include the most top destinations on the coast, such as Cariló or Pinamar. For popular squares, the panorama is not so encouraging. Genaro García, Responsible for the FEBA Tourism sector, he explained: “It is under the average occupation level. Less reserve is noticed in the most popular destinations on the Atlantic coast, where values are higher than those in Brazil or Chile. The most exclusive destinations are those that have had the best level of occupation. ” Thus, Mar del Plata finished 2024 with a 50%hotel occupancy. The first weekend of 2025, the figure increased to 60% on average and, although they expect a small rebound, the truth is that there are doubts of what reach to alleviate the bad results of the first days. In addition, much of the consultations are for short stays, between 3 and 5 days.
In the rest of the beach destinations, the bleeding is not so high, although on average there is talk of a decrease of between 10% and 20% of the tourist influx. For contrast, in other provinces an outstanding season is being lived, such as Entre Ríos, where Columbus has its full occupation, or in Córdoba, where in Carlos Paz they already speak of 15% more tourists.
Moreover, according to off the record some municipal officials of the coast, the occupation numbers are a bit “inflated” so as not to discourage tourists or workers who base a large part of their income in the season.
The gloomy summer season in the province of Buenos Aires has already begun to generate rispideces and political crosses. On the one hand, Daniel Scioli He tried, in vain, to prolong the school break in the Federal Capital to foster vacations. But in addition to the crosses with the PRO, national management faces the anger of the Government of Axel Kicillofwhich states that the National Government attempts against provincial tourist interests.
“We are concerned that there is a national state that, in some way, promotes that it is good to go to vacation to another country, beyond that people can choose. We must understand the economic machinery behind tourism, which moves a lot in terms of economic, ”explained the Undersecretary of Tourism of the province of Buenos Aires, María Soledad Martínez, Who added that, in addition to a decrease of tourists, there is also a “retraction in spending.”
In the midst of these pulls, and with a remarkable decline in the number of visitors, the spa cities of the province live a season of uncertainty. The Atlantic coast is no longer what it was.
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