According to INDEC, 379.9 thousand non-resident tourists entered and outbound tourism fell by 12.1% year-on-year
Inbound tourism was mainly explained by neighboring countries, which accounted for 64.2% of the total. Brazil was the main source of foreign tourists, with a share of 22.9%, followed by Uruguay with 15.7% and Chile with 14.5%. This data confirms the regional weight of the tourist flow to Argentina, especially from nearby and high-frequency markets.
Argentina received 379.9 thousand international non-resident tourists in May 2026, representing a year-on-year growth of 20.4%, according to the latest International Tourism Statistics report published by INDEC. This figure confirms a significant improvement for a key activity due to its impact on consumption, services, hospitality, gastronomy, and foreign currency inflow.
The report also noted a decline in outbound tourism. During the same month, 661.9 thousand resident tourists traveled abroad, a decrease of 12.1% compared to May of last year. The combination shows a more favorable natural dynamic for the country: more foreigners entering Argentina and fewer Argentines traveling to other destinations.
In total, 675.1 thousand non-resident visitors entered the country through all access points. Of that number, 379.9 thousand were tourists and 295.3 thousand were excursionists. Meanwhile, 1,122.1 thousand Argentine residents traveled abroad: 661.9 thousand tourists and 460.2 thousand excursionists.
By access routes, air travel was the most important for inbound tourism. It represented 54.0% of non-resident tourist arrivals, with 205.1 thousand entries and a year-on-year increase of 25.4%. Land travel accounted for 34.0%, with 129.2 thousand tourists and a growth of 10.7%. Meanwhile, river or maritime routes contributed 12.0%, with 45.6 thousand tourists and an improvement of 29.9%.
The report also shows a positive reduction in the negative tourism balance. In May, a deficit of 282.0 thousand tourists was recorded, significantly lower than the negative balance of 437.4 thousand observed in May 2025. Although the balance is still negative, the year-on-year improvement is clear and the performance is favorable for foreign currency inflow.
