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In spite of the crisis, the number of tourists visiting Mendocinian wineries during the week of the Grape Harvest Festival was similar to last year. During the Harvest Festival events, Mendoza welcomed about 129,000 tourists and hotel occupancy raised up to 98%.

Once again, wineries were the places chosen by tourists visiting Mendoza during the Harvest Festival Week. Despite of the current financial difficulties around the world, wineries’ staff in charge of the tourism area agreed that the number of visitors was similar to last year’s records. According to statistical data provided by Raúl Sánchez, Director of Planning of the Government of Mendoza, hotel occupancy rose up to 98%. This represents a slight decrease of 2%, when compared to the values corresponding to the equivalent period in 2008.

Sánchez also told WineSur that, during the Harvest Festival week, the province welcomed 129.000 people, out of which 15.545 were foreigners.

Carolina Fuller, in charge of the tourism department in Bodega Tapiz winery, remarked that Bodega Tapiz’s hotel reached an 80% occupancy, which, during the weekend, increased up to 100%. She added that they have not noticed a substantial decrease in the number of tourists. However, Fuller noted that one week’s good profits will not do for the whole season and, consequently, it is necessary to continue promoting the services.

Likewise, Diego Salguero, Events and Education manager for Finca Decero Winery mentioned: “We believed we were going to have an abrupt fall in the number of tourists, since we started January and February with no reservations made. However, we have reached the same number than last year’s. This results from these times of uncertainty, when people do not plan their trips in advance. Instead, they plan what to do as they go along.”

Change of habits

Tourists’ budgets this year are not the same to last year’s. The international crisis worries people and this makes travellers to change their habits. In this article, Luis Böhn, Tourism Secretary of the Government of Mendoza, mentioned that, since last four months in 2008 and during the first months in 2009, the behaviour of tourists is quite evident. “People try to travel shorter distances inside the province, look for nearer places for their holidays and, above all, they try to spend less money in daily expenses. This affects varied activity areas which are essential, such as gastronomy, trips, adventure tourism, among others.” He also added: “If the crisis worsens, tourists arriving in Mendoza will be trying to save more and more money.”

On the one hand, the person in charge of the tourism department in Bodega Tapiz winery points out that “tourists have reduced their expenses level, and they are also more attentive to prices before going out and choosing a winery or restaurant. What’s more, if they already went out during the day and had lunch outside, they have dinner at the hotel and buy more economical food.”

On the other hand, Diego Salguero said that tourists bypass travel agencies. “Before, tourists went to agencies asking for information and prices to visit different wineries, but now, instead, they make reservations contacting the winery directly.” He added that consumption per capita has decreased. “Tourists have lowered the number of bottles they buy, but not the wine quality. One person used to buy five bottles and now they buy one or two.”

Marcela Chávez, head of the tourism in Nieto Senetiner winery, said that today tourists are more careful at the moment of investing their money. “This year will be characterized by prudent and cautious consumers; at least until there is more certainty as to the economic variables.”

Prospects for 2009

This year will be difficult for all the sectors and tourism is not an exception. Staff responsible for the tourism areas of the wineries consulted affirmed that the most difficult part is still to come. Carolina Fuller mentioned that two high seasons, summer and the Harvest Festival have just passed by, so the decrease has not been so noticeable, but she thinks that the following months will be tough, at least until the market and the world adapt to the new financial scenario.

However, she showed optimism and said that “South America is a destination that fit the reduction of people’s budget in many countries because of the prices and the variety of offers with extraordinary landscapes as well.”

Another opinion was provided by Clara Argerich, from Public Relations of Bodega Norton winery, who claimed that “although May and June are generally months with low inflow of tourists, this year this tendency will be greater. We will have to sharpen our wits so that we can attract the public and visits rate does not fall abruptly.”

In the case of La Celia vineyards, Marco Toriano agreed that a slowing down of the process is expected. However, she added that Argentina and Mendoza will continue to be chosen as the country and the capital city of wine, respectively.

How tourism is to be promoted?

Secretary of Tourism of Mendoza emphasized that promoting activities have been carried out at different points in Argentina and nearby countries, as in the case of Chile and Brazil. “We have a difficult year ahead; we have to fight against all odds. That is why this year’s strategy is to attract a greater portion in the internal Argentinean market. This summer, Mendoza did very well, considering there was 32% more of Argentinians in Chile and 28% more in Brazil. This signalled that national tourism was to fall. However, with the promoting activities we carried out, there was just a 6% fall in Mendoza, while other destinations fell down in 32%.

As to the activities for 2009, Luis Böhn answered to WineSur that the budget for promoting activities was doubled in Brazil and the activities in Chile has been kept.

“From the Secretary of Tourism we are working to develop domestic tourism in the province. This is why different promoting activities will be done from 1 April to 30 June. One of them is called “Mendoza for Mendocinians”, with 30% discount in hotels, trips and adventure tourism. There will also be similar discounts for people from San Juan, San Luis, Neuquén and La Pampa. Finally, we will introduce a package called “Otoño Dorado” (autumn in Gold), having as the main purpose to attract tourists from Buenos Aires and Córdoba.”

Source: Winesur.com