Bariloche tourism hits record highs in July after months of decline

Bariloche, Argentina's popular mountain resort, has cemented its status as a top winter destination, concluding July with extraordinary occupancy rates. Heavy snowfall across the region and the city center pushed hotel bookings to 90.1% in the final week of the month. This success places the province of Río Negro as Argentina's most sought-after winter getaway, according to the Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME).

The outlook for August remains highly optimistic, with hotel reservations for the upcoming National Snow Festival already reaching 85%. Local Tourism Secretary Eric Guzmán highlighted the significant economic boost this provides to the city's entire economic chain, from hotels to restaurants and shops. Enhanced air connectivity, with up to 35 daily flights linking Bariloche to major Argentine cities and international hubs like Brazil, has been a crucial factor.

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The season is built throughout the year. We work to ensure Bariloche is present in priority markets, forge new commercial ties, and showcase the diverse experiences it offers. The challenge now is to sustain this momentum in the coming weeks and continue strengthening the destination.

This July surge offers a vital reprieve for the local tourism industry, which had faced a slowdown from January to June. During the first half of the year, Bariloche received 654,550 passengers, a 7% decline compared to the previous year, according to the Bariloche Hotel and Gastronomic Business Association (Aehgb). Concerns had also mounted over a 16.7% year-on-year drop in total tourist spending (adjusted for inflation) in June, attributed to fewer visitors and reduced spending per tourist.

"The season is built throughout the year. We work to ensure Bariloche is present in priority markets, forge new commercial ties, and showcase the diverse experiences it offers," said Natacha Vázquez, executive director of Emprotur. "The challenge now is to sustain this momentum in the coming weeks and continue strengthening the destination."

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These indicators represent a great movement for the entire economic chain of the city, from the hotel sector to the gastronomic and commercial sectors.