More tourists arrive from abroad and fewer Argentines travel abroad, but more dollars leave than they enter

According to INDEC, they entered the country in May 379.9 thousand non-resident tourists, an increase of 20.4% compared to the same month in 2025. In parallel, 661.9 thousand Argentines traveled abroad, a decrease of 12.1%.

Between January and May 2026, The negative balance between departures and income was 3.31 million tourists, below the 4.33 million registered in the same period of 2025.

Bordering countries were the origin of 64.2% of arrivals. Brazil has a share of 22.9%, followed by Uruguay and Chile.

A report from the Mediterranean Foundation shows that although this summer there were fewer trips abroad by Argentines, there was no marked reduction in the outflow of foreign currency: average spending per traveler increased 12%.

The outflow of foreign currency from outbound tourism in the first quarter was US$ 4,825 millionjust 2% below the previous summer’s record.

For its part, incoming tourism left the country US$ 1,641 million, with an increase of 12%, despite the fact that the exchange rate continues to lose against inflation in a relationship that is not convenient for foreigners. At the same time, the fall in relative prices with respect to neighboring countries deflated shopping trips to take advantage of offers. In fact, Chile land crossings fell 38%.

Thus, The deficit balance for the first quarter of the year was US$ 3,184 million8% less than in the same period of the previous year.

Between January and May, total departures of resident tourists accumulated a drop of 12.4% compared to the same period last year, while the arrival of foreigners grew 8%. For the consulting firm Qualy “The loss of purchasing power (in a large segment of the population) in 2025 and part of 2026 would explain the fall. “Wholesale operators and travel agencies have stated that sales of packages and air tickets did not turn out as projected.”

For Qualy, the year will close with a red mark in this account. US$7 billiona similar amount to last year. This is because although fewer Argentines leave, those who travel spend more.

From the Mediterranean Foundation, Marcos Cohen Arazi comments that For every foreigner who arrives, 2.3 Argentines travel abroad. In 2025 the imbalance was even greater: the exchange coefficient reached 2.8 Argentines.

“The moderation of outbound tourism is not homogeneous. Lower-cost trips by land show a strong decline, while air tourism continues to expand, associated with higher-income segments and demand less sensitive to relative price changes“says Cohen Arazi.

“The recovery of incoming tourism represents an opportunity to generate foreign exchange without the need to develop new productive sectors. Consolidating this trend will depend not only on the evolution of the exchange rate, but also on permanent improvements in competitiveness, infrastructure and quality of services,” adds the economist.

To evaluate how the tourism account will continue in the rest of the year, it is necessary to evaluate the effect of the 2026 World Cup. The consulting firm Qualy estimates that around 45,500 Argentines They will go to see the Scaloneta, 30% more than those who traveled to the consecration in Qatar.

The calculation foresees an average expense of US$ 10,000 per traveler, without counting the airfare. Thus the Argentine fans would demand US$455 million to encourage Lionel Messi in his last? function with the light blue and white t-shirt.

However, Qualy clarifies that there will be an expense substitution effect, since The dollars that the World Cup will take replace – and are not added to – the expense of winter vacations, “which qualifies the net impact on the demand for foreign currency.”