tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post493262638483348965..comments2024-03-09T23:23:06.602-08:00Comments on Southern Cone Travel: Welcome to Argentina? The "Reciprocity" ConundrumWayne Bernhardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03773247959700690756noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-4737718931091908172010-01-01T14:16:01.274-08:002010-01-01T14:16:01.274-08:00I have just written an additional post on the new ...I have just written an additional post on the new reciprocity fee, for those who are interested.<br /><br />Meanwhile, like TCL, I want to speak out in defense of backpackers, far from all of whom are party animals. I myself was one, in the in the late 1970s, and married an Argentine in the 1980s. I expect that Fernando and I might agree that the Bush sisters should stay in Texas, but many Wayne Bernhardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03773247959700690756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-45023606881657338722009-12-29T13:09:45.411-08:002009-12-29T13:09:45.411-08:00Fernando,
It is true that the single traveler doe...Fernando,<br /><br />It is true that the single traveler does not need to pay much. U$S131 was a very small part of my budget for one year in Argentina. If the fee was active at the time I entered the country, I would have happily paid to enter Argentina.<br /><br />However, in respect to a family that wants to take a vacation in Argentina, a family of four would be paying a much larger share TCLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00545798771125392092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-85688374816129661302009-12-29T12:16:36.014-08:002009-12-29T12:16:36.014-08:00Wayne:
What is the average per-person trip cost (...Wayne:<br /><br />What is the average per-person trip cost (total cost = travel + hotel + any gift purchases + living expenses) ? What percentage of that overall spending does the $131 represent? <br /><br />I venture to say, less than 5%. Anyone coming down here planning to spend less than $2600 on the trip overall is nuts.<br /><br />Unless you can answer that, it´s all blah-blah bickering in Nerd Progrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16328258490086439970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-15525987569076261252009-12-29T11:32:08.634-08:002009-12-29T11:32:08.634-08:00It is true that visitors from the United States an...It is true that visitors from the United States and Canada - both countries that will have to pay "reciprocity" fees - are about half the number of visitors from Europe. However, though I do not have the most recent statistics at hand, I believe United States citizens comprise the single most numerous long-distance nationality to visit Argentina, and any reduction in their numbers will Wayne Bernhardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03773247959700690756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-40417811847699977652009-12-29T09:40:23.184-08:002009-12-29T09:40:23.184-08:00China charges between $130 & $160 for a single...China charges between $130 & $160 for a single visit Visa plus the "processing fees" for a tour company to take the Passport to the Embassy.<br /><br />South America is not unique in charging fees. "Far" country or otherwise.<br /><br />Plus, the vast majority of the visitors from Argentina come from Europe, not the USA.<br /><br />FCNerd Progrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16328258490086439970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-1483392420101013912009-12-29T04:14:43.362-08:002009-12-29T04:14:43.362-08:00I understand reciprocity perfectly well, Fernando....I understand reciprocity perfectly well, Fernando. As I've said many times, it's not unfair, but in this case it's particularly foolish, given the current economic environment for international travel, and Argentina's remoteness - for better or worse, it puts Argentina at a competitive disadvantage. Is it better for more foreigners to come, and pay for Argentine services, or for Wayne Bernhardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03773247959700690756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-11365433163638292072009-12-29T00:20:12.129-08:002009-12-29T00:20:12.129-08:00What part of "reciprocity" don´t you und...What part of "reciprocity" don´t you understand?<br /><br />FCNerd Progrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16328258490086439970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-36482622623766985792008-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:002008-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:00Thanks for the tip and your very helpful blog. I'...Thanks for the tip and your very helpful blog. I've one year to live in BsAs and travel around SA. I hope to see you around town.TCLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00545798771125392092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-58176533882026233522008-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:002008-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:00There is an item in today Cronista.com (see http:/...There is an item in today Cronista.com (see http://www.cronista.com/notas/161985-negocian-el-gobierno-evitar-tasas-reciprocidad) that suggests the matter is still up in the air. My guess is that it will resemble the Chilean reciprocity fee, and only be collected at the main international airport but, this being Argentina, it wouldn't surprise me to see something even more foolish.Wayne Bernhardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03773247959700690756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-58046761607559344752008-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:002008-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:00Wayne,Have you heard of further clarifications on ...Wayne,<BR/><BR/>Have you heard of further clarifications on border crossing issue? I'm basing myself in BsAs in 2009 but plan to travel to surrounding countries to visit and to renew my 90 days Arg tourist visa. It's doable but certainly not preferable if I have to pay US$131 every time I cross back into Argentina. <BR/><BR/>Thanks!TCLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00545798771125392092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-81565207246179840272008-10-30T18:19:00.000-07:002008-10-30T18:19:00.000-07:00What disappointing news although I can't say that ...What disappointing news although I can't say that I'm surprised. As livinginpatagonia points out, Argentina hasn't seemed to learn the lesson of "don't mess with success." Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Wayne.Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037164015744825760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-32659120662654993182008-10-11T17:20:00.000-07:002008-10-11T17:20:00.000-07:00After the government went after the farmers and lo...After the government went after the farmers and lost to the number one sector of the economy exports, it only makes sense to mess with number two, tourism. ¡Que kilombo!Soulskierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15485189531571128206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-86704217821517633092008-10-11T06:02:00.000-07:002008-10-11T06:02:00.000-07:00My guess is that the fee will not be reimposed for...My guess is that the fee will not be reimposed for every single border crossing, but it remains to be seen how exactly it will work. If it's similar to the Chilean measure, the bureaucracy is minimal - I paid the fee eight years ago, and cross the border many times every year without encountering any problems.Wayne Bernhardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03773247959700690756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2635460526025384782.post-35349956231644935232008-10-10T21:48:00.000-07:002008-10-10T21:48:00.000-07:00The fee will have an even more devastating side ef...The fee will have an even more devastating side effect on tourism on Uruguay, to which the vast majority of international visitors travel via BA on day or short trips to Colonia or Punta del Este. Under the rules of the new "fee", tourists could potentially be charged on arrival in BA as well as for the subsequent return border crossing from Uruguay back to Argentina, making any potential day or Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com