The holiday for May 25th generated a strong tourist movement across the country and confirmed the growth of short getaways and regional tourism as one of the main drivers of consumption in provincial economies. According to data released by the Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME), more than 1.4 million people traveled during the long weekend, generating an economic impact close to $340 billion.
In total, 1,440,120 tourists traveled and direct spending reached $339.88 billion on accommodation, gastronomy, transportation, recreation, and general consumption. The holiday ranked as the third long weekend with the highest movement so far in 2026, consolidating the recovery of tourist activity in various parts of the country.
Alta, Mendoza, and San Juan recorded a significant tourist influx due to automotive competitions.
The average stay was 2.1 nights, while the average daily spending per tourist reached $112,385. CAME noted that this figure represented a real increase of 18% compared to the comparable figure from 2023, when the May 25th holiday had four days of rest.
Despite the increase in the number of travelers and higher daily spending, the total expenditure ended up being lower than that of that year due to the shorter duration of the holiday. Nevertheless, the level of activity once again showed a positive scenario for domestic tourism and for thousands of businesses linked to the sector.
National holidays, sporting events, and cultural activities were key to sustaining movement during the weekend. Córdoba once again positioned itself among the most attractive destinations thanks to the final of the 2026 Apertura Tournament between River Plate and Belgrano, in addition to concerts and festivals that attracted visitors from various provinces.
In parallel, provinces such as Salta, Mendoza, and San Juan recorded significant tourist flows due to automotive competitions, events related to the international rally, and various regional proposals organized during the holiday.
There was also a strong presence of tourists in traditional nature and close tourism destinations. Puerto Iguazú, Bariloche, the Esteros del Iberá, the Calchaquí Valleys, the lakes of Neuquén, and the Perito Moreno Glacier were among the most chosen places by travelers.
The Obelisk celebrated its 90th anniversary on the same weekend.
The City of Buenos Aires also showed good levels of activity, driven by national celebrations, the 90th anniversary of the Obelisk, and a gastronomic and cultural agenda that attracted visitors throughout the weekend.
The tourist movement was also reflected in air transport. Aerolíneas Argentinas reported more than 147,000 reservations for the holiday, of which more than 115,000 corresponded to domestic flights, once again showing an increase in interest in traveling within the country.
