| As a result of yet another ill-timed law passed by | | | | of millions. |
| Cristina Kirchner's government, travelers visiting from | | | | The real concern here isn't whether this policy is |
| Canada, the US and Australia are now required to | | | | justified, but what effect it will have on the already |
| pay a tourist tax upon arrival in Argentina. The law | | | | battered economy, where tourism is one of the |
| went into effect late in December, 2009, and has | | | | most important sources of growth and foreign |
| raised grave concerns from the Argentinean tourist | | | | income. If you read the postings on this subject in |
| industry, already reeling from the effects of the last | | | | online forums, you get a definite sense that the |
| recession. | | | | sector will take a big hit, judging from the virulent |
| US citizens are asked to pay 138 USD for the right | | | | reactions of would be travelers to Argentina. If an |
| of entry. Although the fee is collected once during | | | | American family of four was planning to go to |
| the lifetime of your passport, this isn't a visa, and it | | | | Buenos Aires for a once in a lifetime vacation, they |
| isn't clear how it is tracked by Argentinean authorities. | | | | might reconsider upon discovering that their tab just |
| Meanwhile, Canadians will be the hardest hit, since | | | | went up by 552 dollars. |
| they have to forfeit seventy US dollars each time | | | | This tax will also have a negative impact on |
| they disembark in Argentina. Australians are bilked for | | | | neighboring countries, particularly Uruguay. Many |
| 100 USD. The amounts can be paid in US currency or | | | | combine their visit to Uruguay with Argentina, |
| the equivalent in Argentinean pesos. Note that this | | | | typically landing in Buenos Aires, then traveling by |
| new tax is in addition to the departure tax you have | | | | Buquebus to Colonia or Montevideo. If you're a |
| to pay upon leaving. If you have dual Argentinean | | | | Canadian, are you going to visit any neighboring |
| citizenship, then you're exempt from paying the new | | | | countries knowing that you'll be tagged for yet |
| tax. | | | | another 70 dollars upon returning to Argentina? The |
| The explanation given by the government for this | | | | same problem arises for Canadians living in Argentina |
| new policy is that it's an act of reciprocity for the | | | | who have to renew their 3 month tourist visa, |
| costly and complicated process imposed on their own | | | | typically by crossing over to Uruguay for a brief visit. |
| citizens when they apply for a visa to one of the | | | | That, my friends is at least 280 dollars a year! |
| three countries. Brazil was one of the first to impose | | | | Currently, the tax is only collected in Ezeiza airport |
| reciprocity several years ago, although I should | | | | (Buenos Aires), probably because they haven't fully |
| point-out that what you get is a real via, good for | | | | worked-out the logistics of collecting the fees |
| five years. It's absolutely true that Argentineans are | | | | country-wide, but their plan is to extend it to all entry |
| discriminated against by several economically rich | | | | points, be it by land, air or water. The Kirchner |
| countries, and the fees they're charged for their | | | | administration predicts it will collect forty million dollars |
| application isn't refunded if it's refused. I agree this is | | | | a year from this tax, but that is probably very |
| unjust, but on the other hand, before the 2001 | | | | optimistic in view of the dampening effect it will have. |
| economic meltdown in Argentina, visas weren't | | | | More importantly, the tourism industry will lose ten |
| required of them - this changed when the flow of | | | | times that, thus making it a net tax revenue loss. |
| illegal immigrants from Argentina became an exodus | | | | |