A REALLY dumb decision!
 

Our newspapers are reporting that the Argentine government is going to charge tourists a "reciprocity fee" (while still NOT demanding a visa) equivalent to the cost of the visa demanded by their country to Argentine tourists.

Brazil has been doing something similar for quite some time, I believe. The difference would be that Brazil actually requires a visa.

Argentines have to pay 131 dollars for the right to request a visa to the US. If, for some reason or other, you are not awarded the visa, the money is lost.

We are quite used to our government's dumb decisions, but this one has to rank among the worst.

At a time when foreign tourism to our country could be expected to decline, due to the world-wide financial crisis, the government adds this deterrent!

My good friend Punta Lugano posted yesterday about this in another forum: http://tinyurl.com/3poom3

This is what our leading daily says on the subject: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1057264

I'll keep you posted.

You'll have a great time in our country, but it will cost you a little more!

Somewhere down the list, someone posted a link to information yesterday. It's the same thing Chile has been doing for years. You arrive, you pay $131 as a U.S. citizen because that's what an Argentine citizen must pay even to apply for a U.S. visa. The Argentine citizen gets no guarantee that the U.S. will grant the visa. At least with U.S. citizens, we don't need to apply for anything in advance. we pay and get in.

While this will directly hit me in the pocketbook, it seems fair, and I can't fault any country for implementing this system.

I agree, AV, I find it puzzling that in a time of financial crisis throughout the world, Arg would impose this. I'm not familiar with the US Visa, but I thought it was good for a year or so? This Argentine reciprocity fee sounds as if it will be charged each time you enter Argentina, is that correct? Given that I have a trip there in about a month, is it being implemented right away?

I'll go read the sites u posted. Thanks for alerting us to this.

The way the system is set up, so far, US tourists would have to pay each time they enter our country. I have been told it probably will be added to their plane ticket.

The US charged me 131 dollars to apply for a visa, but I got a visa for 10 years and I don't have to pay again until after that period.

Besides, the US are supposed to do some kind of background check, before they grant you a visa.

Argentina's (my country) government does not seem to care who gets in, as long as they pay.

So, I believe there is a big difference and I don't think it is fair at all, particularly for the locals involved in the tourism business. But I'm quite confident our government couldn't care less.

Yestravel, I posted without seeing your questions, but I believe I answered most of them.

About how soon they'll start charging this "thing", I'm not sure, at this writing.

I'll keep you posted.

Interesting. Yes, there is supposed to be a background check for a US Visa and I know that can cost $100 or so.

I'll keep an eye for your updates. Thanks again

U might want to repost this info with a title related to Arg so other future travelers to Arg will know about this.

We're leaving for BA in two weeks and are really wondering when this will take effect, how it will be collected ie credit, cash, $. Hope you can answer some of these questions in the near future. I'll keep looking. Thanks for all the updates.

Says, Ana, a "destination expert" on another forum: "it's not a visa that they will require, it's a fee of $131 and yes it will last you for a long time. So, no, you will not have to pay every time!!!!"

I hope she is right about not having to pay every time. I'm not sure about that, yet.

Oh no! This is really a bad thing. Argentina is an amazing country but now it will cost so much to go there. When I do a cost coparison, Europe would be cheaper. Not good at all.

I'm leaving in 2 weeks, wonder if I will have to pay. What happens if it starts once I'm there, do I have to pay to get out, lol? Not very happy about it, guess I have no choice.

I am still in shock. I read the article and cant believe that the fee is for each time one visits Argentina. At least with Chile the fee is good for the life of your passport. I cant imagine having to pay this fee is going to bring in more tourists. What a bummer! Pure greed, pure greed!

What I've read too seems to indicate that it will be what Chile does. You pay and it's good for the life of your passport. Are you sure that it's $131 each time you enter?

The AP report:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...ntina-Visa.php

If it's the same system that Chile employs, then it seems completely fair to me. I may not like forking over the money, but I support any country's right to introduce such a system, when it's what their citizens have to do. And we as U.S. citizens still have to jump through fewer hoops in that we don't have to get a visa in advance.

WHOA !!!!!
I didn't even know about the $131 to enter Chile !! So next month when my wife and I fly into Santiago and cruise around ending in Buenos Aires there will be an added $524 for the pair? That's half our drinking money right there!

That blows

OK, guys, this is the latest I have:

Apparently, this "fee" will start being charged January 1.

It is not yet quite clear to me how it will work for the tourist who visits Argentina often. I may know about it tomorrow.

In the meantime, this is what our leading daily says on the subject today:

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?...0&toi=6276

The people in the tourism business are furious, as was to be expected.

Meanwhile, the argument continues, elsewhere:

http://tinyurl.com/3poom3

Sorry, Jeff but I strongly yet respectfully disagree with you. I think that it is short sighted of Argentina to take this measure. Tourism has helped the economy in the past seven years in Argentina. This new fee will certainly have a negative impact on travel to this country. Its a bad move whether it is fair or not. I do agree with you that I dont like forking out $131 just to enter the country where I might be spending hundreds if not a few thousand dollars.

AV, thanks for the update. I'm happy to see that it will not be in place for our upcoming visit in a month. While I love what I have seen of Argentina, I will say that this new fee will be a factor when we think about other trips to your great country. Appreciate you keeping us informed on these things.

Oh, I understand exactly what you're saying, travelme. :) Whether or not it's a good tactical decision or not is another issue. No doubt it will hurt tourism, and if I worked in the industry there, I'd be upset too.

I think it's a fair decision though.

Todd, I believe if it's next month, you will have to fork over "only" $262 when you land in Chile. It appears that Argentina's fee takes effect Jan. 1.

Is there a reduced amount for minors? We are going there in March with our two kids (ages 16 and 13). Paying $524 for all 4 of us is a bummer!

A few years ago I was on a flight to Chile. At that time, the fee was $100. A U.S. family of five was on the opposite side of the plane. All of a sudden, the dad blurted out, loud enough for everyone else to hear, "We have to pay $500 when we land!!!" He had been reading their guidebook in flight and stumbled upon this tidbit of information.

Well, guys, it seems that different sectors of our government are arguing among themselves about this, which confirms they don't know what the .... they are doing. I guess that's why they got their job in the first place! LOL!!

Our Tourism Secretary obviously got a lot of complaints and rumor has it that he called our Minister of the Interior (our version of the US State Dept.), asking him to delay the measure. Besides, I guess there must have been some complaining in the order of "you are treading on my turf".

Of course, all this was officially denied.

Here you can find what our leading daily says about this today:

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?...amp;high=tasas

Elsewhere, after about 80 posts, the argument on this subject had somehow or other evolved to whether we Argentines love or hate Americans. Oops, I'm sorry, I mean US citizens! We are Americans too!

See: http://tinyurl.com/3poom3

Well, I guess that if you guys wish to find info about this obviously tourism-related matter, you'll have to come here, where we enjoy free speech (within reasonable limits, of course). LOL!!!