Argentina’s economy has faced challenges: besides the 70% inflation foreseen for the end of 2022, the currency is in free fall. The accumulated loss in the year is 25% against the dollar and almost 18% against the real.
If this is negative for those who live in the country, it has been a “paradise” for Brazilian tourists, who see Argentina as one of the few international destinations where the purchasing power of the real increases instead of decreasing.
Despite the drop in tourism during the pandemic, the flow of Brazilians is starting to normalize. Tourists from Brazil were 22% of the total 2.5 million travelers received by Argentina in the first half of 2022.
According to information released in the last Panrotas forum of the tourism sector, the total number of Brazilian visitors in the country has already surpassed the result of the same month of 2019.
Therefore, airlines are expanding flights on this route. Latam’s total number of frequencies (outbound or return flights) between São Paulo and Buenos Aires, which was 14 until June, will reach 28 in August.
TIPS FOR A GOOD LIFE
Those who have traveled to Argentina in this tourism resumption have already created “tricks” to stretch the value of the reals.
“I exchange the reais that I transfer from Brazil to Western Union (a network of international transfers), which pays much better than the money changers. We even exchanged R$1 (US$0.18) for ARS 55,” said Rebeca Pileggi, 30, a public relations worker.
On the same day, an “arbolito,” as the money changers on the famous Florida Street in downtown Argentina are known, offered ARS 42 for R$1.
Rebeca is from São Paulo but became a nomadic professional during the pandemic. She lived in Italy with her husband for a while, and two weeks ago, they arrived in Buenos Aires to stay indefinitely.
“We came to stay because it pays off the rate. The advantage is huge, not only in consumer goods but in the price of rent, public services and in general,” she said.
But the exchange rate oscillation in Argentina increases the Brazilians’ tension when it comes time to change money. “We don’t really know the value; everyone puts their own price,” said Nilton Azevedo, 36, who is an electrical engineer.
In five days, he observed the devaluation of the Argentine currency. “When we arrived, the rate was ARS 51; today, we saw it at 56. There are different prices among the money changers, which makes us look for the best value,” he said, along with his wife, Priscila Vieira, 32, a computer scientist.
In any case, the Brazilian couple found the exchange rate quite advantageous. Initially, they were going to stay five days in Buenos Aires, but they extended their stay for ten days. “We decided to stay longer because the money is paying off,” said Priscila.
With information from O Estado de S. Paulo