Luxury travel and tourism is booming here in Argentina, Uruguay and other corners of Latin America, and this week’s 2011 International Tourism Fair showcased some of the region’s most beautiful destinations. Over 1,700 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors were on hand for the four-day turismopalooza held at La Rural in Buenos Aires.
As always, Argentina’s travel wares were on full display in the main pavilion. After decades of squandered opportunities, the host nation is finally realizing its full potential as a tourism magnet now reflected in the record number of inbound tourists, international flights and cruise ships coming to Argentina. Now the#1 preferred travel destination for neighboring Brazilians, Argentina used FIT to showcase the natural beauty of the interior. Salta, Mendoza and Bariloche had three of the most impressive booths at FIT 2011.
Brazil, the number one travel destination for Argentines traveling abroad, also had enough exhibitors to fill an entire pavilion with green-and-yellow-Embratur eye candy. Brazil’s tourism agency capitalized on the FIT media frenzy to announce the 12 host cities for the 2014 World Cup. According to Brasilturis Jornal, Brazilian exhibitors were seeking to lure foreign visitors to Brazil with more than just Sol e Praia (Sun and Beach).
Perennial InvestBA favorite Uruguay, a case study in tourism growth, represented “the 598″ in full force at FIT 2011 with beautiful panoramic vistas of Maldonado, Rocha and Colonia. APROTUR presented Destination Piriapolis to showcase one of the country’s most affordable waterfront destinations. Featured this month in International Living, Piriapolis is beginning to attract more foreign investors seeking an unspoiled destination along the Tango Coast.
For more information about luxury travel destinations in Argentina and Uruguay, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.
