Tourism increases in Argentina

Tourism Up: The Argentine cruise industry saw a record season servicing 336,000 passengers

The cruise season yielded good results in Argentina with 336,000 tourists coming to Buenos Aires during the last season, which is to say, there were 140 port arrivals by 39 vessels. This was a record figure for the port city wherein 66% of tourists who came via cruise ship staying in Buenos Aires, and 56% spending at least one evening off the ship — strongly impacting the hotel industry — and spending on average $335 per day. When it came to U.S., Canadian and European travelers, that figure jumped to $500. The activity was so significant that, in the end, reforms will be made to broaden the impact.

Argentina and Malaysia to increase flights, tourism and Trade

Argentina is keen to increase its trade volume as well as diversify its business ties with Malaysia, said the South American country’s ambassador to Malaysia, Maria Isabel Rendon.

She said Argentina’s current exports to Malaysia comprise mainly agricultural products, soya products and meat while Malaysia sells mainly electronic and electrical product.

Describing the current bilateral ties as “at a very good level”, she nevertheless added that there were still much to do.

“Bilateral agreements signed (so far) helped a lot but that doesn’t mean there is not much work to do,” she told Bernama in an interview recently.

Malaysia and Argentina established diplomatic ties in 1967 with the South American country opening its embassy here in 1983 and Malaysia in Buenos Aires in 1999.

Rendon said that the two countries could explore and work together to improve trade volume and diversify business ties.

In 2009, Malaysia sold some US$270 million worth of goods and products to Argentina while Argentina’s exports to Malaysia was about US$550 million.

In 2007, the volume of trade between Malaysia and Argentina had amounted to RM3,108 million, with Malaysian exports to the South American country being RM616 million.

Currently Argentina’s investment in Malaysia are in areas related to mechanical, metallurgical and turbine.

She also explained that delegates from three central Argentina provinces visited Malaysia last November for more trade ties especially in agricultural production and their niche area.

“So the movements are very dynamic…we look forward to increasing trade and diversifying the business…it is a big challenge of course,” she said.

Malaysia has a very strong Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector and the same goes for Argentina, “So in this area we can look for a better interaction between the business community of the two countries,” she said.

She also hoped there would be more high-level visits from leaders from both sides as such visits would push further existing ties in many areas for mutual benefits.

The then Argentina President Carlos Menem visited Malaysia in 1996 where Kuala Lumpur and Buenos Aires signed several agreements such as air services, tourism aand trade promotion and in 1997 Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad visited Argentina.

About air links, Rendon said that she was very happy that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flies to Argetina, hoping that the national carrier can increase the frequency.

Malaysia Airlines currently flies the Kuala Lumpur-Buenos Aires route twice a week.

Argentina, with about 40 million population is the eighth-largest country in the world by land area. It borders Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, and Chile to the west and south.

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SOURCES:

“ARGENTINA – Tourism Up”
16-04-2010
Poder360

http://www.poder360.com

http://www.poder360.com/dailynews_detail.php?blurbid=6777

“Argentina Keen To Diversify Business Ties With Malaysia”
April 16, 2010
BERNAMA.COM

http://www.bernama.com

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=491144