“Investing in the sector is synonymous with productive, economic and labour development, promoting more and better infrastructure, services and tourism products throughout Argentina. In this sense, we already have an agenda of topics raised, in the permanent dialogue that we have with Daniel Scioli and Yanina Martinez and their work teams, in order to advance in more and better tools,” said Gustavo Hani, president of CAT.
As a result of the joint public-private work that the CAT has been carrying out, this initiative emerged, created to think of policies and tools that contribute to identifying and implementing the development of strategic tourism projects, highlighting investment opportunities that can be developed in our territory, where investors were able to learn about the business opportunities that exist in the tourism sector.
The opening ceremony of the Forum was attended by the Secretary of Tourism, Environment and Sports, Daniel Scioli; the Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology of the Nation, Darío Genua; the Secretary of Energy and Mining Coordination of the Ministry of Economy of the Nation, Daniel González Casartelli; the Undersecretary of Tourism of the Nation, Yanina Martínez; the Regional Director for the Americas of UN Tourism, Gustavo Santos; and the President of the Tourism Board of CABA and President of the Federal Council of Tourism, Valentín Diaz Gilligan.
Secretary Daniel Scioli said, "We have more than 110 investment projects already underway in the sector. Tourism has a profound federal meaning. Today the world demands what Argentina has: tourism 12 months a year."
For his part, Gustavo Santos, Regional Director for the Americas of UN Tourism, said that “Argentina has regained its prominence and has re-inserted itself in the world. I want to tell you that there is international expectation for our country, and that is a point that we cannot waste. For this we have to be more united than ever.”
In turn, Daniel González Casartelli, Secretary of Energy and Mining Coordination, said, "tourism has to be a beneficiary, since it is one of the major strategic sectors with potential growth along with mining, energy, agroindustry and the knowledge industry. Tourism is one of the eight sectors that is part of the RIGI."
During the day, two keynote presentations were given by Gustavo Santos and by the Knowledge Manager of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), Verónica Frisancho, who provided a strategic perspective on how private investment can boost the growth and sustainability of the sector in Latin America.
Private tourism projects were also presented, sharing their experiences and successful strategies for generating economic and social value in their respective communities, seeking to provide inspiration on the impact of private investment in tourism.
A space for exchange and networking with investors was created in business rounds, to implement projects that favor the growth of the sector in Argentina.
Representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Bank of Investment and Foreign Trade (BICE), and the Bank of the Argentine Nation (BNA) also made presentations, providing information on the sources of financing applicable to the sector, as well as data on the incentive regimes available in the provinces to attract the establishment of capital.
At the international level, the head of the Development and Investment Division of the Undersecretariat of Tourism of Chile, Leonardo Latorre Martín, presented the country's experience in promoting public and private tourism investments, and regional cooperation alliances in this area.
Finally, the incentives and fiscal properties available for the development of tourism projects by different provinces were presented. Among the speakers, the province of Mendoza applied to host the next edition of the Forum, next year.
During the closing ceremony, with the presence of representatives from the provinces who presented their initiatives, Gustavo Hani said: “From the private sector we like that there is still a lot to invest. Argentina needs investment in infrastructure, there are many opportunities, and today's Forum allowed us to learn about them.” “I think there is a great opportunity. The current conditions will allow us to continue working, investing, providing employment and generating more infrastructure in the provinces.”
Daniel Scioli said, “We all agree on the importance of generating incentives for investment, with a strategy that increases economic benefits at a regional level, strengthening human capital and destination intelligence.”
Yanina Martínez said that "we have to get more tourists to come so that those who invest, win. We have to get the State to support us and not put obstacles in our way. The conditions are there. During the Forum we were able to see all the opportunities that Argentina has."
“This will be the first of many forums to be held in the future for a permanent exchange, thinking about the present and future of tourism and promoting investments, knowing that we have enormous potential to continue growing. “Tourism entrepreneurs will continue to invest every day, because it is what we know how to do, we just need the tools,” concluded Hani.
Source: Cámara Argentina de Turismo.