VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1760/01 2491305
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061305Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9143
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001760 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECON WHA/BSC 
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/OCAC/APEACHER 
USDOC FOR 3134/USFCS/OIO/WH/RD/MKESHISHIAN 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON EAIR BEXP AR
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR AND SECRETARY OF TOURISM REVIEW 
BOOMING U.S.-ARGENTINE TOURISM FLOWS 
 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) Ambassador Wayne met with Secretary of 
Tourism Enrique Meyer to discuss ways to encourage 
and support the growing tourism between the U.S. and 
Argentina. He also advocated on behalf of Sheraton 
Hotels/Starwood, which was caught up in a dispute 
between two factions of the taxi drivers union.  The 
Secretary offered to work more closely with the 
 
SIPDIS 
Embassy in hopes of highlighting travel and tourism 
opportunities.  He mentioned that many U.S. hotel 
chains are aggressively expanding in Argentina's 
burgeoning tourism market, which attracted over 2 
million visitors in 2006 and is growing 24 percent 
per year.  Following the meeting, the Ambassador met 
with Mr. Sergio Hurtado of American Airlines. They 
discussed current projects with the Secretary of 
Tourism and American's application to the DOT to be 
the first airlines to add an additional route (BA- 
Chicago) since the signing of the new bilateral 
civil aviation agreement, which allows significant 
expansion of flights between the two countries. 
 
 
 
 
----------------- 
INCREASED TOURISM 
----------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The Ambassador recently met with the 
Argentine Secretary of Tourism Enrique Meyer.  Mr. 
Dar!o Cervini, his advisor, and Mr. Hctor Espina, 
President of National Parks, participated.  The 
Secretary who is a long time friend of the Kirchners 
 
SIPDIS 
from Santa Cruz province, explained that one of his 
major priorities is to promote Argentina worldwide. 
One of the projects to further that goal is the re- 
design of access to and amenities available at 
Argentine National Parks. 
 
¶3. (U) The Secretary is also promoting a workshop in 
cooperation with American airlines in Buenos Aires 
during the month of September and has invited 
approximately ninety Tourism Operators from the 
United States.  Further, he has launched a "virtual 
University" for U.S. agents to acquaint themselves 
with the numerous tourism locations located in 
Argentina in order to better promote such locations 
to their clients. 
 
¶4. (U) In 2006, the Argentine tourism industry 
reported a record year with about 4.5 million 
arrivals, a 14 percent increase from 2005.  In 
addition, nearly 300,000 Americans visited Argentina 
in 2006.  According to the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, the amount of Argentines traveling to the 
United States is growing with a regular 12 per cent 
per year, reached 212,000 Argentine arrivals in 
¶2006. 
 
 
--------------------------- 
TAXI DISPUTE AT BA SHERATON 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador consulted with the Secretary 
regarding the Sheraton Hotel, which was suffering 
from a much-publicized dispute between the taxi 
company serving its hotel and the taxi union.  The 
Ambassador urged the GOA to promote a rapid 
resolution of the dispute, noting that the news of 
taxis blocking the Sheraton in downtown Buenos Aires 
can't be good for tourism.  The Secretary agreed. 
 
----------------- 
INCREASED FLIGHTS 
----------------- 
 
¶6. (U) The Ambassador highlighted the July 2007 
signing of the US-Argentine Civil Aviation Agreement 
and thanked the Secretary for his strong support. 
The new amendments will increase the number of 
weekly passenger frequencies that U.S. and Argentine 
airlines may operate between the two countries; 
significantly expand the route rights for Argentine 
 
carriers on their U.S.-connected service to 
destinations in Canada, the Caribbean, Central 
America, Mexico, Europe and Asia; allow charter 
flights between the two countries; and modernize the 
existing agreement's provisions on aviation security 
and pricing. The proposed amendments affect only 
passenger service. 
 
¶7. (U) The Ambassador also noted that there is a 
lack of on time and competitive domestic flights to 
Argentine provincial cities.  Some of the wealthier 
provinces are encouraging other private carriers, 
the Secretary said, but this remains a serious 
problem for tourism and for Argentine citizens 
traveling by air. 
 
----------------------- 
U.S. HOTELS ARE BOOMING 
----------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) The Secretary mentioned that another one of 
his priorities is to promote greater investment in 
hotel infrastructure.  As a result of booming 
tourism, which attracted over 2 million visitors in 
2006 and continues to grow at 24 percent per year, 
U.S. hotel chains are aggressively expanding in 
Argentina's burgeoning tourism market.  There are 
more than 200 new projects underway, including major 
projects like the Sheraton in Puerto Madryn and a 
Hilton in Misiones.  He also mentioned that hotel 
rates, which have differed for local and foreign 
guests since the devaluation of the Argentine Peso 
in December 2001, are now beginning to converge. 
 
 
----------------- 
AMERICAN AIRLINES 
----------------- 
 
¶9. (U) following his meeting with Sec. Meyer, the 
Ambassador visited American Airlines corporate 
offices and met with Sergio Hurtado, Director; 
Domnico Matinata, Regional Sales Director; Carlos 
Harrington, Sales Manager and Hctor Per!coli, 
Manager of Institutional Affairs.  American 
explained that they were excited about the launching 
of their fifth daily flight to Chicago (fifth daily 
American Airlines flight to Argentina) and with a 
recent agreement to decrease the fees for airport 
services. 
 
¶10. (U) American provided the Ambassador with a 
presentation on a project they are undertaking with 
Secretary Meyer to bring 90 U.S. travel agents and 
 
SIPDIS 
tour operators to Argentina to learn more about ways 
to promote Argentina as a destination for U.S. 
tourists. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶11. The travel and tourism sector in Argentina is 
booming, and the boom is expected to continue for 
the foreseeable future.  The Secretary of Tourism is 
taking positive steps by supporting programs to 
bolster this trend.  At the conclusion of the 
meeting, he offered to meet with the relevant agency 
heads of the U.S. Embassy in order to provide them 
with updated information on the market and explore 
opportunities to collaborate more closely.  CS 
Buenos Aires is in the process of arranging the 
meeting. 
 
WAYNE