Foreigners (Tourists & Non-Res) Cannot Use Ars For Travel

[ElCordobés]

Bigger news than the 35%...tourists, non-residents must now use foreign instruments for international and domestic Argentine travel according to what I'm reading here. That's a MUCH bigger deal for many. My family and I are permanent residents, but any friends, family and perma-tourists...may be take a huge hit if I'm understanding this correctly (and agencies follow the policy).

http://www.iprofesional.com/notas/175788-Ms-cepo-al-dlar-el-Banco-Central-establece-nuevas-restricciones-a-las-agencias-de-viajes

 

[Rich One]

Bigger news than the 35%...tourists, non-residents must now use foreign instruments for international and domestic Argentine travel according to what I'm reading here. That's a MUCH bigger deal for many. My family and I are permanent residents, but any friends, family and perma-tourists...may be take a huge hit if I'm understanding this correctly (and agencies follow the policy).

http://www.iprofesio...ncias-de-viajes

WOW... only in foreign currency for all tourist services even local hotels or tourist services...?? City Tour or Sr, Tango...!! bike rental, restaurants?? taxi's ?? Must carry CC at al times!!


Communication 5499 , which came into full force and provides access to the local exchange market by transport companies and local tourism for the purchase of foreign exchange for services sold to nonresident travelers for international travel and service tourism in the country and abroad , will be conditional on the payment of such benefits by the relevant local company , be made ​​by credit card and / or debit cards issued abroad , foreign exchange transfers from outside checks on accounts abroad and / or foreign currency banknotes .
That is, from now on , foreigners or non Argentine residents arriving to Argentina can not buy or passages abroad or domestic , or any other service or local tourist agencies abroad in pesos. Ie , they can only do it in dollars or another currency.
[font=Droid Sans'][font=Helvetica Neue']Thus , it aims to avoid some strategies used by foreign visitors , especially from neighboring countries, [/font][font=Helvetica Neue']which changed its foreign exchange dollars or pesos in the parallel market to lower their costs of lodging, excursions or other services within Argentina .[/font].[/font]

 

[ElCordobés]

It's not clear to me how this might impact hotels. But it does seem clear for air/hotel/tour packages...this would apply.

 

[Somewhereinba]

How will this work if an Argentine purchases the ticket for a foreigner in pesos?

 

[Dublin2BuenosAires]

What counts as a tourist service? I.e. which lucky local business have just been handed the golden goose and are now legally required not to accept pesos and to ask for $, EUs or reals?

 

[ElCordobés]

We will see how agencies/airlines implement this. But in my experience they request the DNIs/Passports of each traveler and nationality. To add insult to injury if you don't have a DNI...you'll pay a the higher non-resident fare for domestic travel at the official exchange as had been the case before the blue.

 

[Desde2008]

It is crazy to think that this government has so much control of the economy. Are there tourist police out there that ask you where you are from before they accept your money? Does the local hotel owner care whether you pay in cash or with a credit card?

Are there going to be more tourists to this little socialist regime or less because of these new rules and regulations on how you spend your money as well as on what method you use to make that payment?

These politicians take stupidity to levels that have never been seen before.

 

[nicoenarg]

How will this work if an Argentine purchases the ticket for a foreigner in pesos?

I would assume everyone would need to show their DNI/passport when the tickets are bought. And again, I would assume, if any adult for whom the ticket is being bought is not a resident, for them the ticket will need to be bought in dollars.

These are just assumptions but they are based on the fact that this order comes from Banco Central. If the travel agency wants the pesos converted to dollars, from now on they will need to provide evidence that the pesos were paid by residents, and if they fail to provide DNI evidence or the like for residence then I doubt Banco Central is going to permit them to purchase dollars.

 

[nicoenarg]

According to this:

En una medida más para reforzar el cepo al dólar y complicar no solo las vacaciones de los argentinos sino también de los extranjeros, el Banco Central dio a conocer una nueva comunicación que establece más restricciones para las agencias de viajes.

I would think this only affects travel agencies (las agencias de viajes), so direct hotel/airline purchases (theoretically) shouldn't be affected.

 

[ElCordobés]

The actual document refers to "empresas de transporte y turismo" so I believe this stretches beyond the agencies. I'm sure we'll have to wait for the dust to settle.