Q: Is there any positive news to report from Argentina and its neighbours?
A: The positive news is that the virus hasn’t been very prevalent in the areas where the main attractions are located – for instance Iguazu, the Atacama Desert, or Cusco in Peru. This shows us that these destinations will be safe when the tourists are able to return to South America.
On the other hand, the closure of the national parks and preserved areas has allowed fragile habitats to recover from the impact of tourism. Pollution, for example, has been greatly reduced, while wildlife is slowly returning to its natural environment.
Q: When do you think will you be able to receive tourists again?
We are very keen to welcome tourists back as soon as possible, but because of the news and information that we’ve seen, we believe that we will only be in a position to receive travellers from neighbouring countries in October/November, and visitors from further afield in around January 2021. Of course, this position can change rapidly and depending on the policies of other countries.
In Argentina, all borders have been closed until September, when it’s possible, but not certain, that airlines will start to operate national and regional flights.
In South America more widely, Uruguay is likely to open its borders to visitors the soonest – the country responded particularly quickly and effectively to the Covid threat. Brazil is conversely the most affected, as they have many cases and unfortunately have suffered a high death toll. Nevertheless, they also estimate they will be able to open their borders by September, as do Chile. In Peru, meanwhile, domestic tourism will resume by mid-June/early July. Machu Picchu, for example, will open by then, while international tourism is expected to return by August/September.
Nothing is official or set in stone, however. All this can change as we learn more about the virus behaviour and with the evolution of the measures and protocols that each country is practicing.