Despite economic uncertainties, the demand for international travel among Argentines has remained strong since travel agencies began accepting dollar bills as a payment method. The stability of the “blue” exchange rate, coupled with attractions such as shopping in Chile and the Copa América tournament in the United States in June, are the main reasons why Argentines are eager to travel abroad.
Choosing one payment method over another can result in significant savings when purchasing tickets or booking hotel rooms. This is because there is a difference between the financial dollar exchange rate and the “tourist” dollar exchange rate.
Travel agencies like Despegar have seen an increase in passengers paying for trips with dollars, deposited into dollar accounts, or through dollar transfers to avoid extra taxes. Demand remains constant and stable, with inquiries for holidays in June and winter vacations on the rise.
Agencies have also noted an increase in business trips, incentive trips, and events for companies, with travelers being cautious about budgets but still choosing to travel. This trend is supported by the competitive pricing advantage of purchasing tickets in dollars.
Despite entering the low season, airlines like Flybondi are experiencing a good level of demand for international destinations, particularly in Brazil. The stable dollar exchange rate has made travel to foreign destinations more appealing for Argentine travelers.
Overall, there has been a growth in demand for both national and international destinations, with the decline in the blue dollar exchange rate positively impacting ticket purchases. Payment methods have been adjusted to offer direct payment options in dollars for international services and products. However, prices for air tickets and tourist packages remain high due to limited seating capacity on airlines worldwide and manufacturers’ aircraft delivery problems that restrict airlines from increasing their seat availability, leading to sustained high prices in the near term.