The Port of Buenos Aires announced a 56% reduction for tourists starting with the 2019-2010 cruise season, in a statement from the General Port Authority.
The season will begin on October 29 with the arrival of the AIDAAura ship, which will arrive in Argentina for the first time as a result of several initiatives implemented to boost the national Cruise Industry, according to the information.
Increase in passengers
During this period, which will run until April 2019, the Port of Buenos Aires will receive a 13% more passengers compared to last season, as a result of the various measures and policies worked on and articulated together with public and private organizations and various national and international companies, shipping companies and cruise lines from 2016 to today.
Measures articulated since 2016
Some of the measures implemented since the 2016-2017 season were the following:
- Reduction of immigration and fuel fees
- Reduction in rates for sustainable cruises
- 100% bonus on port taxes for vessels over 315 m in length.
- New passenger services
- Infrastructure investments
- Innovations in sustainable mobility
Impact of the measures
As a result, major companies have already announced new ships.
- El AIDA will start the season with the ship AIDAAura in the port with more than 1200 tourists
- El Costa Luminosa which will go around the world in 106 days, touching several Argentine ports
- El Royal Caribbean will visit Argentina with the high-end ship Azamara Persuit, with capacity for 680 passengers, and with the famous Celebrity Eclipse, which will bring 3145 tourists on board.
- El SCENIC Eclipse, a modern luxury ship that will travel through the south of our country with 228 passengers.
- El MSC Fantasy
- El Vicking Sun
- El Royal Princess
“Today we are already seeing the results of the work we started in 2016 to improve the competitiveness of the cruise industry. With lower costs, predictability and clear rules, we have managed to get companies to announce the arrival of 2 new ships for this and the next season in just 12 years, which translates into more work and income for our port and country.” — Gonzalo Mórtola, AGPSE Auditor.
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Port and Customs
In addition, the Ministry of Transport, through the General Administration of Ports SE, together with the National Customs Directorate, is working on the regulation of measures such as:
1. Lower costs
2. Streamline customs procedures
3. Supply goods for use and consumption (Ranch)
4. Refuel by route
5. Submit a simplified form of the ranch and junk manifest.
6. Boosting cruise tourism in the federal port. From the 2019/2020 season the The passenger tax charged by the cruise terminal operator will drop by 56% compared to the current value, going from costing US$ 45,5 to US$ 20 per passenger.
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