A taste of Argentina and Air New Zealand says “Kia ora” to Buenos Aires

Argentina offers myriad experiences for travellers, whether cultural, gastronomic or adventurous, and Australians are among its top visitors. As part of its Oceanic promotion, the National Institute of Tourism Promotion of Argentina has organised events for B2B, travel agents and media in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, culminating in an appearance at Luxperience next week.

On Friday 4 September, LATTE was invited to a media morning tea briefing, hosted by Air New Zealand and Pablo Cagnoni, Market Coordinator – Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa, Emiliano Gabriel Waiselfisz, Consul-General of the Argentine Republic in Sydney, and Maria Alejandra Vlek, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Canberra.

As well as enjoying some local music, empanadas and alfajores, guests were given an insight to the vast diversity of Argentina, from Iguazu Falls in the north to the Perito Moreno Glacier in the south. The average Australian visitor stays 12.5 days, visiting Buenos Aires as well as destinations such as Iguazu, Mendoza, the country’s wine capital and home to the world’s best Malbec, and Ushuaia, the world’s southern-most city and the most popular gateway to Antarctica.

Travellers from Australia and New Zealand will soon be able to access its wonders direct from Auckland to Buenos Aires with Air New Zealand’s new route and its first to South America. From 1 December 2015, Air Zealand will be saying “Kia ora” to Buenos Aires. Argentina-bound tourists will be able to access its capital and gateway, the most visited city in South America, in just under 12 hours from Auckland, three days a week. Operated by the NZ’s Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, Australian passengers will be able to fly from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or the Gold Coast with seamless connections on to Buenos Aires, while Perth passengers will be able to enjoy a 12-hour stopover in Auckland.