Argentina to host UNWTO Best Tourism Villages award ceremony in December
Argentina's Secretary of Tourism and Environment, Daniel Scioli, announced at the 176th Assembly of the Federal Tourism Council in Mendoza that the country will host the UN World Tourism Organization's Best Tourism Villages award ceremony in December. The ceremony will conclude the program that showcases 600 rural villages worldwide. Eight Argentine villages were selected from 56 proposals across 19 provinces: Cachi (Salta), El Trapiche (San Luis), Mar de las Pampas (Buenos Aires), Puerto Pirámides (Chubut), Tafí del Valle (Tucumán), Villa General Belgrano (Córdoba), Villa Sanagasta (La Ríoja) and Zenón Pereyra (Santa Fe). Officials highlighted a 47 % rise in Chinese tourists over two months and a 10.6 % increase in inbound tourism, offset by a 13.2 % drop in outbound travel. A renewed agreement with INDEC will resume international tourism and hotel occupancy surveys in the second half of the year. The event was attended by senior tourism authorities from 21 provinces and representatives of the national tourism council.