Diego Piquín resigns as head of Río Negro Tourism Agency

Diego Piquín has announced his resignation as the Executive Director of the Río Negro Tourism Agency (ATUR), effective November 30. The decision comes as the province prepares its summer season strategy and follows the recent Bariloche gastronomy festival.

Piquín cited personal reasons to the board, but reports indicate significant operational and bureaucratic friction with the provincial government. Despite being designed as an agile, semi-autonomous entity with private sector involvement and strong funding, ATUR reportedly failed to achieve the independence intended by its legislative framework.

The agency's leadership faced challenges including administrative difficulties and tensions with provincial officials, specifically regarding the role of Tourism Secretary Sol Canalda. Piquín’s departure follows a period of restructuring in the province's tourism policy under Governor Alberto Weretilneck.