Argentines’ postcards invading this summer every corner of Chile, especially in cities such as Viña del Mar, Santiago and La Serena, they translated into almost a 165% more tourists and hikers who came out through the Paso Cristo Redentor and an impact of 165,183.8 million dollars on the Chilean economy, barely accounting for the expense of those travelers who crossed the mountain range through the land.
However, so many Argentines leaving the country caused a severe USD deficit 1,236 million for tourism in Argentina: There were many more Argentines who traveled abroad (Brazil, Chile and Uruguay at the head) than foreigners who visited the neighboring country during the first quarter of 2025, as a consequence of the appreciation of the Argentine currency and the “ironed dollar”. Thus, a country that is unattractive in prices to vacation.
The figures arise from the latest International tourism report prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC) and published days ago. Not only does it provide a complete overview of March, favored by the movement of Carnival holidays on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 and the day of memory on Monday, March 24 in Argentina, but shows a quarterly balance of the entire last summer, which was close to breaking the Argentine record in Chile, corresponding to 2017.
During the first quarter of the year, 5,076,700 Argentines traveled abroad for tourismwhich marked an increase of 79.6% compared to the same period of 2024. Meanwhile, another 1,900,100 did it as “hikers”, that is, without spending, as was the case of many who made shopping tour in Santiago or Los Andes, areas near Mendoza to go and return in the day.
In contrast, just 1,646,500 foreigners entered Argentinawhich resulted in a 24.7% year -on -year drop. From there appeared a negative balance of 3,430,200 people only for tourism.
The disadvantage in the flow of tourists is a serious problem for the trans -Andean governmentwhich seeks to strengthen the reserves of the Central Bank after the release of the stocks to the dollar and the growing demand for currencies.
According to INDEC, between January and March Argentines spent a total of USD 2,133.7 million outsidewhile foreign visitors left in the country just USD 897.1 million. The result: a USD 1,236.6 million tourist deficit during the summer.
Invasion of Argentines in Chile: 165% more crosses for the Paso Cristo Redentor in the summer
According to the official figures of the Government of Javier Milei, 81.3% of the broadcasive tourism went to the bordering countries. The main destinations of the Argentines were Brazil, with 32.8%; Chile, with 22%; and Uruguay, with 14.2%.
In the case of Chile, in the first quarter they entered 418,400 Argentine touristsand 164.5% more than throughout the summer of 2024. And only in March were 292,300, 170.3% more than in the same month of 2024. It is the greatest interannual variation among the destinations declared in the report.
If it is filtered by access, the Paso Cristo Redentor He had 196,200 tourists towards Chile. 54.7% chose to stay the “house or apartment rental” category; And 25.1% spent the night in “House of Family or Friends”, which demonstrates the little interest of Argentines to stay in hotels and opt, instead, for comfort. The average stay was nine nights.
Via Cristo Redentor, the total expenditure of Argentines in Chile It was USD 165,183.8 (Growth of 319.5% compared to last year), while the average daily expenditure was USD 45.7 (+47.5%), according to INDEC.
The problem, which once again demonstrates the tourism deficit for Argentina, is that the Chileans who crossed the mountain range for that land crossing They barely left USD 24 milliongenerating a red of USD 162.1 million.
