Buenos Aires' Tourism Boom Rolls On

Buenos Aires continues to see its tourism numbers rise after a booming first quarter of tourism in 2017.

Officials believe that expanding tourist offerings will continue to drive the impressive numbers upward. 

“We are excited to see what this year will hold for Buenos Aires and hope the record number of international visitors we welcomed during the first quarter of this year is an indication of our future growth and success,” said Gonzalo Robredo, executive director of the tourism office of Buenos Aires. 

“The city is constantly innovating to offer a wide array of tourism offerings to serve and welcome a variety of travelers from all over the world."

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During the first quarter of this year, Argentina welcomed more than 476,217 international tourists, which is a 4.6 percent increase over 2017. Fifteen percent of the arrivals came from the U.S. and Canada. Twenty-six percent came from Europe. 

Direct flights from several destinations make getting to Buenos Aires easy for U.S. travelers, and tourism officials expect this will continue to boost visitor traffic. 

The city of Buenos Aires continues to improve its offerings, recently completing renovations to its tourist assistance centers, which now include complimentary Wi-Fi access, phone charging stations and more. The most anticipated upgrades are the new convention center and the brand-new Alvear Icon hotel in the Puerto Madero neighborhood.

The hotel, which opened in June, is located across from the Faena Arts Center and is the sister property to the famous Alvear Palace in Recoleta. The $100 million, 34-story tower features 159 rooms with nine floors of residences and a convention center. On the top floors, guests will have access to a bar and restaurant with 360-degree panoramic views. There is also an indoor/outdoor pool, gym and spa complex. 

Inside, Glitter is one of the city’s most elegant restaurants and is also 100 percent Glatt Kosher.

The Buenos Aires Convention Center will open in Recoleta later this year. The facility is near many of the city’s most important attractions, including the Museo de Bellas Artes, Parque Thays and Recoleta Cemetery. It will offer 193,750 square feet of exhibition space.

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Above and around the center will be 16 acres of new green space that is part of Buenos Aires Urban Greening Plan. There are new art galleries, designer shops and restaurants opening in neighborhoods around the city as well. Visitors can also take advantage of the city’s year-round activities and events such as football matches, tango competitions, polo, gay pride and more. 

Next year, the city will host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and is going all out to put its best foot forward. Buenos Aires will also be Art Basel’s first partner city, and events are scheduled to kick off in the later part of the year.

Buenos Aires and Argentina as a whole are truly distinguishing themselves in the eyes of the American traveler.