RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Argentina reopened its borders this Friday for the arrival of foreign tourists, which will be given progressively after the access routes were closed for almost a year and a half for non-residents due to the covid-19 pandemic.
“With this decision, tourists from neighboring countries began to enter. As of October 20, the cruise ship season also begins, which is an activity that generates a lot of income”, said Interior Minister Eduardo “Wado” de Pedro at a press conference.
Tourism has been one of the sectors hardest hit by sanitary restrictions.
In 2019, before the pandemic outbreak, Argentina received three million foreign tourists, which represented revenues of 3,176.9 million dollars.
The Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, said that this opening is possible thanks to the progress of the vaccination campaign and the improvement of the epidemiological situation, with a daily average of contagions in September of 1,584.
PROGRESSIVE OPENING
To enter Argentina, tourists must be fully vaccinated or, otherwise, undergo compulsory isolation, present a negative PCR performed 72 hours before traveling, do an antigen test upon arrival in the country, and another PCR five to seven days later.
Fourteen days after Argentina reaches 50% of the population with a complete vaccination schedule, those entering the country with the vaccination schedule will be exempted from the antigen test.
The opening of borders will be gradual, starting this Friday with the entry from neighboring countries for those tourists who have stayed at least during the last fourteen days in those countries.
The resumption of bioceanic and Antarctic cruises is scheduled for October 20, while the arrival of foreign tourists from non-bordering countries is planned for November 1.
On the other hand, the Government announced the establishment of progressive quotas for the arrival of travelers by air, with 2,300 daily seats from this Friday, increasing to 28,000 seats by October 11.
OTHER RELAXATIONS
The Argentine government issued a new decree with the sanitary measures and the activities regulations in force from this Friday until the end of this year.
According to the decree, the social distancing and masks in shared closed and open spaces are still in force, but their use will no longer be compulsory if people circulate outdoors at a distance of more than two meters from other people.
The new decree authorizes the realization under protocols of activities with higher sanitary risk, such as group travel, the opening of discotheques and party halls, and massive events with more than 1,000 attendees in closed spaces.