In the context of the crisis caused by the coronavirus COVID-19, tourism was hit hard. In addition, the uncertainty about what would happen in the summer of 2021 was the concern of many people. However, the government took action on the matter and launched its reimbursement and quota program called PreViaje.

Thanks to this initiative of the Nation, more than 200,000 people bought tourist products for 2021 through the Pre-Travel system last year at first, since this official program was implemented, in October 2020, and obtained a refund of the 50% in credit for consumption in the sector.

Now, in the middle of summer and with the aim of granting benefits to those who bought their 2021 vacations in advance, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Nation agreed that the Pre-Travel Mastercard issued by Banco Nación can be attached to the network of Mercado Pago stores.

In this way, PreTravel users will be able to download the application, add their preloaded card as a means of payment and scan the QR code found in the store to use the available credit.

This new form of payment is added to those already in force: the Pre-Travel card and the BNA+ Electronic Wallet, which can be used in all businesses that have the Posnet service, both Prisma and First Data.

The benefit granted by Tourism can be used from the start date of the vacation until December 31, 2021 in businesses that are part of the entire national tourism chain: accommodation, travel agencies, transportation, excursions, gastronomy and tourist centers, among others.

It is not necessary for the premises to be registered in Pre-Travel: they only have to be registered with AFIP as providers of tourist services.

Through this new system, $15,000 million was injected into the tourism sector: close to 600,000 tourists used the service in 2020, generating income of $10,000 million. Therefore, the National State contributed $5,000 million through credit repayment for the beneficiaries to use during 2021 and encourage the reactivation of the sector.

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About the card for refunds and fees launched by the Argentine government, Previaje

The Ministry's updated report specified that "nearly 50% of consumption was in Travel Agencies, while 40 % corresponded to different types of accommodation and 9% to transportation".

"It is a first step to reactivate regional economies," added the official, and expressed his excitement about it: "We are convinced that tourism will be a great protagonist in the reconstruction agenda."

Since the Previaje was launched, tourist transactions increased by more than 140%, although there were cases in which they even exceeded 250%, figures that show how inactive the sector was.

The advantage of getting a refund to use during the break time seems to be the basic motivator for this behavior.

And national destinations, logically, concentrate the attention. The Argentine south continues to be the one that captures the most interest at any time of the year, despite the summer heat where the beaches always gain tourist attention.

In flights, Bariloche, Ushuaia, El Calafate, Salta and Mendoza are the most demanded destinations, in a behavior that is identical to that registered when observing what happens with tourist packages, including Iguazú , according to data from AlMundo.

This photo is similar to the one shown by Avantrip, which also has Bariloche at the top of Argentine tourist interest, followed by Buenos Aires, which continues to be chosen by the provinces. Salta, El Calafate, Ushuaia, Tucumán, Iguazú, Mendoza, Córdoba and Jujuy complete Avantrip's top ten.

As noted, some tour operators repeat the most sought-after destinations or appear some that in others do not respond to the interests of each company and the differential that they try to offer over the competition. Hotels, inns, car rental companies, excursions, and restaurants prepared for the start of summer and continue to do so with the protocols required to receive tourists safely.

Iguazú is the most chosen national destination in Despegar. Although this company also pointed out that the south of the country has a high demand and, therefore, they will close a good season. Ushuaia, San Martín de los Andes, Bariloche and El Calafate top the Patagonian ranking while Mendoza also attracts interest, surely due to the need to meet nature that invites you to toast to it and to friendship.

The company also pointed out that Salta concentrates the interest of the Argentine north while if one looks at the Atlantic Coast, which has already received thousands of tourists so far this summer, the most popular locations are Cariló, Mar de the Pampas, and Mar del Plata.