The FIFA World Cup is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year and the winner Argentina determined with a heated playoff against France. But this gala extravaganza also offers rich travel experience.  France is home to some of the world’s most iconic monuments and historic sites, Argentina is known for its natural beauty, with unique glaciers, and world’s biggest waterfalls. Both France and Argentina are among the biggest cultural hubs in the world, and offer diverse climates, robust cuisines, and an overall rich travel experience.

Let’s take a look at how they stack up against each other on key tourism numbers.

Tourist Arrivals

France remains the most visited country in the world with an obvious advantage in the number of inbound travelers. However, in 2019 (the pre-pandemic baseline), Argentina saw a remarkable 7.24 percent increase in arrivals, reaching an estimated 7.4 million international tourists. Although France also experienced an increase, it was not as significant as Argentina’s — from 89.4 million visitors in 2018 to 90.9 million in 2019, increasing only by 1.67 percent.

Visitor Spending

The impact of the pandemic on international travel was felt acutely in many countries, including France and Argentina. According to the World Tourism and Travel Council, international spending in France dropped from a high of $66.3 billion in 2019 to $43.9 billion in 2021, a decrease of nearly 35%. Argentina experienced an even more pronounced decline in visitor spending, falling from $4.9 billion in 2019 to just $0.3 billion in 2021 — a 94 percent decrease.

Tourism Industry Jobs

The tourism industry has been a major employment hub for both Argentina and France, and both have faced significant declines in jobs due to the pandemic. Fortunately, both seem to be on their way to recovery with France employing 2.6 million tourism jobs — a 7.1 percent growth rate since the peak of the pandemic, and Argentina growing tourism jobs by 13.7 percent to 1.33 million people in 2021. Argentina travel jobs are now nearing a full recovery.

Inputs: Skift

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