The visit of Pope Leo XIV boosted tourism and raised hotel occupancy to 75% in CABA

Searches for accommodation in Córdoba and Alta Gracia grew by more than 400% year-on-year, according to figures from Airbnb cited by CAME. Transportation also reflected the increased demand: the Bus Terminal tripled its usual passenger flow compared to other holidays with high attendance, with visitors from different provinces and neighboring countries.

Luján, for its part, prepared to welcome two million faithful for the mass on Wednesday, November 11. The prior hotel occupancy exceeded 90%, and accommodation searches skyrocketed: more than 1,800% year-on-year on Booking and more than 500% on Airbnb. To facilitate the arrival of pilgrims, the Sarmiento railway added 42 special services from Moreno, and free parking was made available along with lodging options in private homes and institutions.

The arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Argentina generated a notable boost in tourism during the long weekend and extraordinary holidays. The masses and religious events attracted millions of faithful and energized the hospitality, gastronomy, transportation, and commerce in various regions of the country.

According to a survey by the Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME), religious tourism was the main driver of activity. The City of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Luján established themselves as the main hubs, although the movement also reached traditional destinations where many travelers took advantage of the days off for getaways.

In the City of Buenos Aires, the mass on Monday, November 9, gathered 2.5 million people. According to estimates from the Buenos Aires Tourism Board, between November 6 and 10, 1.24 million visitors arrived. Of that total, 242,000 stayed overnight in the City and nearly a million were day-trippers.

The economic impact exceeded US$88 million, and hotel occupancy averaged 75%. More than 160 food stalls and food trucks were set up near the Monument to the Spaniards, while around 90 restaurants, bars, and shops participated in the “Pope Leo Menu” initiative, offering discounts and special promotions.

Córdoba and Luján concentrated a large part of the mobilization

In Córdoba, the mass on Tuesday, November 10, at the Argentine Factory of Airplanes (FAdeA) gathered more than 650,000 people, according to data released by the Vatican. Hotel occupancy in the provincial capital was around 60%, although several high-end establishments reached their maximum capacity.

Beyond the religious events, CAME's survey identified a second driver of activity: recreational trips to traditional destinations, especially nearby ones. The Buenos Aires Atlantic Coast had one of the best performances. Mar del Plata exceeded 75% hotel occupancy, driven by the International Film Festival, sports competitions, musical shows, and gastronomic proposals.

Mixed results depending on the destination

Movement was also notable in Pinamar and Cariló, where some complexes reached full capacity. In the Villa Gesell district, Mar de las Pampas recorded 86% occupancy, Mar Azul 80%, and Las Gaviotas 76%. In the interior of Buenos Aires, Chascomús reached 98%, mainly driven by visitors from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires.

Other provinces also felt the effect. Santa Fe received more than 112,000 visitors and generated an economic movement exceeding 20 billion pesos. Neuquén accounted for more than 20,000 tourists with a direct impact exceeding 8 billion. In Jujuy, 16,199 tourists were recorded, with an occupancy of 61.96% and an impact of 4.599 billion pesos, while San Luis reached an occupancy of 62.7% with estimated revenues of 1.799 billion.