Argentina stands a chance of being reinstated into the United States’ Visa Waiver Program after a hiatus exceeding two decades. One analysis indicates that tourism may potentially double, while trade between the two nations could increase by more than US$11 billion each year, contingent upon the success of Argentina’s waiver bid.
The data was generated by the website Argentina Expat, utilizing information from the International Trade Administration of the US Department of Commerce and the National Travel and Tourism Office. They conducted a comparison of Argentina’s existing commercial relationship with the United States against the data for Chile prior to and following its accession to the Visa Waiver Program.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Monday that “25% more Argentines” traveled to the U.S. between January and April this year, marking “the largest jump of any of the top 20 countries for international arrivals.” At present, around 955,000 Argentine tourists make their way to the United States annually. The analysis indicated that, with visa-free access, the figure could increase to almost 1.9 million each year. Currently, Argentines have the opportunity to apply for visas for brief visits to the United States, whether for tourism, business purposes, family and friend visits, or medical treatments. Argentines typically receive a B-1/B-2 visa, which serves dual purposes of tourism and business, and is valid for a duration of up to 10 years.
In 2014, Chile became a participant in the visa waiver program. In the subsequent decade, the number of Chilean tourists visiting the United States experienced a significant increase, more than doubling from an average of 188,000 visitors to surpassing 377,000. Trade experienced a significant uptick. The bilateral goods trade between the US and Chile experienced a significant increase of 36% during the same timeframe, escalating from an annual average of US$18.9 billion to US$25.7 billion. In 2023, Argentina dispatched around 563,000 visitors to the US, reflecting its ongoing recovery from the pandemic. In 2019, that figure was recorded at 955,000. According to trends observed in Chile, the implementation of the waiver could result in an annual increase of US$11.2 billion in bilateral trade between Argentina and the US.
Ognjen Pavlovic, founder of Argentina Expat, which concentrates on expat life and business in the region, stated that the potential advantages of the policy change reach well beyond tourism. “Argentina represents a much larger market than Chile did in 2014,” Pavlovic stated. “With a burgeoning middle class and robust cultural connections to the US, this may facilitate enduring commercial prospects. Travellers from Argentina exhibit a propensity for extended stays and increased expenditure. They are indeed tourists; however, they also encompass businesspeople, investors, and represent a significant segment of the Argentine-American diaspora.