Tourism Policy: the Argentina Case

We could say that the bond between Politics and Tourism suffers from the typical avatars of any present scientific confluence. Namely: the meeting with an old friend: PoliticalScience (with its own baggage of concepts, values, resources,etc.); and a new knowledge: Tourism. In this case it is not strange to verify that doubts and issues a priori introduced have not been much different from the ones outlined in the relationships: Politics / Informatics, Politics / Genetics, Politics / Environment, etc.

That is why we have faced the need to reflect on both, in order to underline the distinctive characteristics of Tourism. And either ratify or not, the so often arcane notions of Politics or else reissue its contradictions, so that we can better clarify its relationship with the phenomenon it´s assumed to be linked to.

In this sense, the Argentina case is believed to be symptomatic of a practice that seems to be generalized in Latin American countries: the intuitive urgency to reformulate a tourism system claimed to be insufficient (and that it may be), but without exhausting the minimum critical reflection on it. That is: changing though without knowing exactly why, how, or where; and so bearing the adjustments which end up fatally duplicating the political and social effort. However, not all is shadows on the horizon; some dim lights as a product of a new conscience about the touristic phenomenon seem to break into with hits worthwhile highlighting.

Politics

In the free flow of ideas, if someone asked: “What is this wecall Politics?” we would get the most dissimilar answers;

some would state it´s about a Science, others would say it´s an Art, others would relate it to militancy, etc.

According to Prelot[1] Politics is a concept which could be built from the word´s as much as from the ideas history. Thus, some of its varied meanings could be deduced from its Greek origin: polis, politeia, politika, politike.

But even when we do not fall into such subtleties, it is obvious that when we talk about Politics we mean knowing as well as doing. In this sense when we speak about this or thatcountry´s Politics we may be alluding to its ideological system (capitalism, socialism, etc.) as well as to a set of measures taken for a specific area or problem (e.g. British foreign affairs). Put in other words, we could be consideringthe strategic or tactical dimension of Politics. According toBeaufre´s[2] ideas and understanding the strategy as a worldview aimed at using the required resources to achieve the Nation´s goals and interests; and the tactics as the by-measures, which would in a short or long term allow for this to occur.

Regarding Political Science, Aristotle[3] describes it as the master Science: “it determines which of the sciences should be in the communities, and which kind individuals are to learn, and what degree of proficiency is to be required. We observe that even the most highly esteemed of the faculties, such as strategy, domestic economy, oratory, are subordinate to the political science. Inasmuch then as the rest of the sciences are employed by this one, and as it moreover lays down laws as to what people shall do and what things they shall refrain from doing, the end of this sciencemust include the ends of all the others. Therefore, the Good of human beings must be the end of the science of Politics.”

While it is true that Politics as knowledge highlights its architectonic, constructive, organizing condition, we can neither ignore nor deny the fact that Politics as doing, as an activity, rests on an opposing will; on a will and

struggle to reach power as an element of the State. And in this sense we believe and agree with some authors[4] that Politics is indeed, the art of making possible the necessary.Where this latter (the necessary) springs from the principlesof Politics based on a specific worldview intending to make them real.

Now, the axis of this doing, as we understand it, derives from the definition of “goals and interests” where the formerare usually defined in the constitutional or founding text with a certain will for perpetuity. While the latter are expressions that represent the collective will of a group of people at a certain period of time; and though they enjoy some temporal stability, they could vary from decade to decade. For instance: leading a particular regional bloc, sharing seabeds, participating in the development of a certain type of technology, etc.

Politics is then, an art and a government’s technique aimedat improving life conditions for a better development of Man.Politics thus conceived is the sensible theoretical-practicalconcern or interest for the Common Good.

The State, a central player in the relationship we intend to elucidate is key then to the understanding of Politics in any of its dimensions.

Unfortunately, since the Latin root of State: “status” doesnot provide many clues about its meaning; some have chosen tofollow Jean Dabin who claimed that the word´s use had settledit for the concept of “supreme political association”.

As a politically organized community, the State has three elements: Territory, Population and Power; all being essentially linked by a common culture that turns such link into more than the sum of its parts.

This reality materializes when we travel to any state and overcome the “mind maps”. Because maps turn out to be exactly

that, mere two-dimensional[5] representations which contrast with a dynamic and polyhedric reality that projects over water and space. A reality that materializes when we get involved with its people, their customs, their faith, their codes, their way of living and their history. A reality that materializes in the State´s imperium and auctoritas; i.e.: within that Imperium: its capability of ordering reality, in terms of power as well as in cultural and heritage resources.And within the Auctoritas the minimum required consensus on the perception of legitimacy of most of the community.

The Law joins state politics in subordination and coordination starting from a double functionality: Ideological and Instrumental. From the first one it reflects the so-called constituent power, conceiving it as a capability and competence to dictate the basic rule. From thesecond one, it serves to articulate the order, the architecture; the basic structure of the state organization in a set of juridical rules.

These are different from the rest of rules (religious, moral, etc.) since to their condition or antecedent there follows a consequence or sanction which, ultimately, may be coercive though always restricted to the bodies of the State itself.

TourismThe term “tourism” also has its own philological and conceptual difficulties. A “tour” is basically a circular journey, a return to the origin. Historically linked to two periods: the Medieval Times with its religious “pilgrimages” (e.g. Santiago de Compostela) and the Renaissance with the travels usually undertaken by English noblemen with educational purposes through European capitals[6]. So it is not wrong to assert that the first tourism has been religiousand cultural. Mexican authors highlight the French possibilities of the word “tour” as coming from the Latin

“tornare” [7]. In any case, the “tour” and “turn” roots derived from “tornus” (to turn, to lath, etc.) as a noun, and“tornare” as a verb together with the suffix “ist”, “ism”, account for the underlying idea[8].

Travelling is learning and each tourist chooses the journeybest fit to their needs and expectations. Tourism is in this sense a live experience: discovering other people, other landscapes, other cultures, other stories. It is preferring the actual fact instead of the told one. Thus set out the very act of anonymous consumption has no meaning for anyone, to apprehend from someone else is, instead, one step forward,an epiphany from the surface to the essential. In wider terms, it may be simply understood as the set of human interactions (transport, lodging, services, etc.) derived from the tourists’ temporary displacement. [9]

But, just as tourism can be defined for and by the tourist,also it can and must be for the rest of the actors.

In other words, for a hotel chain or a travel agent “tourism” shall be the object of their business, for a State it shall be industry; on the other hand, for an InternationalBody, as for instance the WTO[10], it shall be a set of phenomena which need still to be registered.

In this sense, for an agent their tourism definition shallbe limited to “the combination of the different elements usedin travels” [11] with a view to get a return on investment. States, instead, prefer to think of it as a source of foreignexchange, a complex activity that involves different sectors of economy. And when we talk of Active Tourism[12] we mean revenues entered as an asset in a country´s pay scales.

In the WTO´s definition: “Tourism involves the activities done by people during their trips and stays in places different from their usual environment, for a period shorter than a year with leisure, business or other purposes”[13].

As you can see none of the previous definitions can be considered as absolute, since Tourism is identified for beinga two-dimensional phenomenon; being a personal experience on one side, and a transversal activity on the other one. What implies that its concept be functionally built in this aspect.

And though politics must not avoid the essential meaning ofTourism, since this one makes the essence of its sustainability, it is logical for it to highlight its collective aspects more emphatically.

Naturally, even this last WTO´s definition has several remarks. So, for instance, could the number of people daily displaced through the “triple frontera” (the tri-border area of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina) be considered touristic? What is understood by “usual”? How can accurate measurements be done if the economic resources I get as a tourist derive from the very place I visit? etc. However, this conceptualization together with the Satellite Accounts project has proved to be a suitable instrument to measure thewealth generated by the touristic flow[14].

It is also clear that Tourism itself, socially understood, is neither good nor bad. It represents a phenomenon that can generate positive as well as negative aspects which shall be evaluated when a touristic policy is fixed in each of the sectors it makes an impact on: Economy, Culture, Environment,etc.

Tourism Policy Who is responsible for building Tourism Policy?

If our first answer was simply the State, we would be in very deep trouble. Touristic Politics may be able to and should be implemented as from the State, but it is built bottom-up. Successful projects on touristic destinies have

been based on raising tourism awareness under a whole community´s control. This awareness-raising shall be accompanied by a private sector in ongoing training. A training allowing them to break the old paradigm of the Fordian school of massification and rigidity to start competing in a segmented, flexible market of great integration in all its stages. Here, the role of the public sector becomes essential not only as a regulator, but also asan educator in one case and a facilitator in another one.

Why should Tourism Policy be necessary?

Without attempting to exhaust reasons, here are but a few reasons:

a) Firstly, due to something arising from all the above mentioned: its complexity. It involves a transversal activitywith no room for improvisation.

b) Because travelling without any planning translates into economic, cultural and/or environmental negative costs previously mentioned.c) Because the new Tourism paradigm brings the need for defining new segments, supporting well-informed customers, competing in a global stage, etc.

d) Because it is a State´s responsibility to reconcile a freemarket with the preservation of its cultural and natural heritage.

e) Because it is no longer a matter of attracting more tourists but of building a more sustainable tourism.

How?

Both terms of the relationship understood, it remains clearthat there cannot (or there mustn’t) exist an isolated “tourism policy”, raised as just another sector in the distribution of ministerial portfolios or as a watertight

compartment. It should, in any case, be the reflection of a wide National Policy; even more if we take into account the sector´s projections. This one, concretely, should be an important part in the consideration, (beyond government conjunctures) of any serious state policy.

However, what do we mean when we say “Tourism Policy”? Do we mean its foundation?Not actually, because this must be found in the National Policy, in the Great Strategy. Do we mean a mere listing of actions? No, we mean 1) the plan for the sector and how it´s been designed, 2) the structure it´s supposed to be implemented from, 3) the resources and 4) finally the generaland legal standards that shall provide it with a framework.

A plan implies a reflection, a plan implies to set goals ina short, medium and long term. A plan is not designed for oneor two or fifteen election periods, but it is thought for fifteen or twenty years; (and even more, if the political system´s stability allows it). A plan is not an actions listing but a description of intentions, actions in any case shall be their consequences.

In the same way as any plan intends a certain effectivenessit shall be imposed vertically; if it also intends efficiencyit shall be built horizontally. A not consensual plan, not technically validated, shall have a principle of implementation but it shall fall through when its mentors fall through.

The structure must be a reflection of the political will for planning, in such a way that if we plan to simplify management, trade, access systems, etc. and we later create abureaucratic structure full of formalities and attachments, the plan will fail. Likewise, if we have an excellent planning and a flexible structure but we do not have enough resources all the effort shall be useless.

So it is good to remember two concepts that are institutionally applied to provinces or bodies: Autonomy (auto nomos) derives etymologically from the capability to devise their own regulations; autarchy, instead, is related to the capability of self-government (archei: government). Both can be applied to the province situation, since they, aspolitical units, restrict their power not delegated in the Nation; and, besides, they exclude the federal government from the integration of its local powers.[15]

In such countries as the USA, Sweden or Canada where there is great enterprise solidity, the State has relinquished its federal bodies of tourism limiting itself only to some regulatory and supervisory competences for lower courts. Naturally, this does not mean there is no Government´s concern or investment, but that simply there is no specific national body. Another possibility is for the touristic organization to be raised from a centralized body (maybe) with some representatives in the destinies. And finally, it can involve a decentralized body, on the basis of territory (such is the case with Argentina or Spain), or of products (hills, beaches, snow), regions, etc. At the same time, thesebodies can be only public, private, mixed or mixed with most of the public sector and vice versa. Their task can be set totally independent from other countries or within some regional integration. The hiring scheme varies widely; it canbe a majority of career employees except for management positions which would be political, or a majority of political positions with a few career positions, or else all public administration positions.

Whatever the model (either centralized or not) its main function shall be aligned with the objectives of the present Tourism Policy, that is, with the available resources it willintend to improve the sector´s competitiveness setting national goals, researching, making statistics, commercializing and promoting, coordinating regional efforts,regulating, supervising and setting quality standards increasingly demanding.

For its transversal character there frequently are specificcoordination bodies, from national portfolios as well as fromprovincial, regional or local competencies; either with the bond between the public and private sectors, or with merely promotional functions.

Effective or financial resources can be directly provided either by the budget items or by collecting societies established ad hoc. These can be complemented or not, with tax extensions and/or subsidies, low interest rate differential loans, investment guarantees, work permits, technical support availability, encouraging training and recruiting staff, in order to reduce social charges, etc.

Eventually, we believe that the plan, its formulation, themeans to pursue it and the transparency in the financing mustbe designed for different (International, International Regional, National, Provincial Regional, Provincial and Municipal) scenarios supported and coordinated, based on legality. This is what we then call Tourism Policy.

Argentinean Tourism Policy Inevitably, historically, Argentinean tourism policy has experienced the ups and downs of national policy. With a succession of somewhat pale and scarce hits, as a result of some exchange rate situation more than a serious and rationalplanning.

Let us describe then the political frame Argentinean tourism policy is set on, to analyze together the key themes that in our view compose it: (plan, structure, resources and regulations) in light of the current government.

The Argentinean touristic system is the reflection of a republican and federal political system; as such it has two well differentiated sectors: the private and the public. The

latter, with a decentralized nature, has three competence degrees in respect of territory: National, Provincial and Municipal or Local. Three typical relationships exist among these levels: A) Subordination: by the principle of consistency expressed in the federal unity and supremacy; B) Participation: in recognition of the provinces collaborationin decisions made by the Federal Government; and C) Coordination: distributing and rearranging competences in order to avoid superposition. [16] Its regulation as well as any other activity´s, derives from the division of powers. Soindividual rules arising from court orders; the general ones emanating from the legislative power and the specific ones proposed by the executive power; the enforcement body (Secretary of Tourism) in charge of the area or any other meddling state section; are enforceable. Without prejudice toany transversal activity depending on customs, migratory, police regulations, etc. The Pfets 2016

The Strategical Federal Plan for Sustainable Tourism has been a collective construct, lasting two years (2004/2005) made with consent and participation in the manner of regional workshops, in which the public, the private and academic sector participated.

It was made up as an orienting and articulatingprocess of actions which synergistically assert thepolitical will, and redirect the resources towards an agreed model

for sustainable tourism development. Where each region defined their SWOT and which corridors, circuits, entrance doors they wanted to maximize or develop for 2011 and 2016. As shown in this map.

The vision of making Argentina one of the best positioned countries of the region set up two pillars: A) Offer diversity and B) Service quality. Always based on a balanced territorial development, that respects the habitat and the identity of its inhabitants.

The EMP (Argentine Country Brand Strategy)

The EMP is an interdisciplinary andmultisectoral state policy aimed atconsolidating the country´s image at a nationaland international level, fostering theexportation increase, the rise of tourism, theinvestments attraction and sharing our culturein all its fields.

Devised in 5 stages (Foundational, consensus,design, transition and institutionalization), the brand is one of the resources that make up this strategy aimed at starting up Argentinean products and services abroad. The wavy shape transmits dynamism, change, transformation and gives the design quality, by means of an organic shape (wave). Blue and light blue colors refer to our patriotic colors. Grey (neutral color) transmits elegance, modernity, innovation and technology associations. Its common origin anddiversification transmit diversity in the unity. Its minimalistic and abstract style transmits modernity and youth.

National Public Level

At a National level the highest authority is the Secretariat of Tourism [17]; located within the structure of the Ministry of Production together with the Secretariat of Agriculture, and the Secretariat of Industry, Commerce and SME under Decree 2025/08. Originating from an old law from year 58 (14.474), it was frequently amended and regulated by Decree 1912 from 1987. Nowadays it has been replaced and improved by the Executive´s project sanctioned by law 25.997 [19], which, after defining the activity as socioeconomic, strategic and foreground for the country´s development; and laying down the foundations of the principles which will inform the whole activity (facilitation, social development, sustainable development, quality, competitiveness and accessibility), focuses the body´s functions in this manner:

Duties:a) To set national policies of the touristic activity in

order to plan, program, promote, train, preserve, protect, generate investment and foster development within the framework of a strategic federal plan;

b) To propose the regulations related to the touristic activities, touristic products and services in their office, which will be consulted to the Federal Tourism Council and to the Argentine Chamber of Tourism;

c) To coordinate, encourage and foster actions for our country´s tourism promotion at a local as well as at a foreign level;

d) To control compliance with the regulations and complementary standards eventually issued;

e) To manage the revision of regulations and actions which prevent or hinder tourism development;

f) To elaborate the investment and touristic public works plan;

g) To set tariffs and services prices they provide regarding social and leisure tourism in the touristic

units in their office; as well as the objects they sell,for the fulfillment of their related activities:

h) To support touristic interchange, promotion and broadcasting by means of agreements and/or multilateral treaties with other countries or institutions, in order to upscale and encourage tourism towards our country and/or region;

i) To supervise and audit entrepreneurships subsidized by the Nation, as well as invested funds, having attractions and/or touristic products;

j) To stimulate research, education and technical and professional training for this activity;

k) To promote tourism awareness amongst the local people; l) To prepare annual work plans, the general expenditure

budget, and the spreadsheet of their own resources provided by the current law;

m) To administer the National Tourism Fund

And Faculties:a) To agree regions, zones, corridors, circuits and

touristic products with provinces, municipalities involved and/or the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires;

b) To arrange entrepreneurships of touristic interest; providing financial support for public works, tourism equipment and infrastructure, in consensus with the province, the municipality involved and/or the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires;

c) To perform and/or manage tourism infrastructure and/or any other facilities equipment and/or services aimed at promotion, either by themselves or by concessionaires;

d) To manage and/or grant credits for building, broadening or refurbishing typologies referred to in subsection c) of this article and to pay down debts from those concepts under established conditions, after consensus

with the provinces, the municipalities involved and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, where relevant;

e) To promote actions prone to establishing incentives to attract capitals in Argentina;

f) To conclude agreements with institutions or national orforeign public or private companies for any action leading to the fulfillment of the scopes and targets of the current law, including the setting up of offices forpromotion abroad;

g) To design, promote and develop a special credit system in order to contribute to the country´s tourism;

h) To promote, coordinate, help and inform educational institutions for professional training and qualified personnel for activities related to tourism;

i) To organize and participate in congresses, conferences, or other similar events with the provinces, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, business organizations,academic institutions which represent the sector and/or foreign bodies;

j) To subsidize the official entities of tourism from the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and from the provinces, which adhere via agreements concluded with the respective governments in compliance with clause b) of this article;

k) To arrange however necessary, and for tourism promotion aims, the realization, distribution and exhibition of any broadcasting material they decide to make;

l) To subscribe and make agreements with all centralized and decentralized government´s area under the best fulfillment of the law;

m) To have the necessary funds for the organization of congresses and attend to foreign personalities related to tourism;

n) To make and implement training, information, awareness, promotion, and prevention strategies, with a view to spread the touristic activity;

o) The organization, programming, collaboration and economic contribution for the country´s participation infairs, exhibitions, congresses or similar events of tourism nature;

p) To encourage the inclusion of transversal themes on tourism training in the syllabuses at all levels of private and public education;

Despite the above listing, the new law based on sustainability, development, quality, accessibility principles, etc. contemplates that even when such broad powers are given to the National Secretary, these will not beenough without a specific structure. That is why it has created new institutions and it has changed the role and insertion of other preexisting ones. Accordingly, an INTERMINISTERIAL COMMITTEE OF TOURISM FACILITATION, as an interinstitutional instance to coordinateand ensure the fulfillment of the administrative duties of the different public entities at a national level with competences connected with and/or related to tourism for the benefit of the sustainable development of the country and itscompetitiveness. And its aim is “to know, attend, coordinate and settle administrative affairs arising in the tourism context, related to the competence of two or more dependencies of the Public Administration, in order to contribute with the National Secretary of Tourism in full exercise of their duties and powers”.

Force of law is also given to the FEDERAL COUNCIL OF TOURISM, an institution created by decree long before, thoughit has proved to be fit for the achievement of some provincial representation in national decisions. Its aim is to “examine and declare for issues on organization, coordination, planning, promotion, legislation and strategiesof tourism activities of federal nature”. Among other functions, they ascribe to it the powers of “participating inthe elaboration of policies and plans for tourism developmentby the Enforcement Body”, and “proposing the creation of zones, corridors and touristic circuits in provinces where common policies of integration, promotion and development of the activity can be implemented”.

The Secretary´s original functions are broken down, thus creating the NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR TOURISM PROMOTION, whose aim will be “to develop and carry on plans, programs and strategies for the promotion of international receptive tourism and its by-products, as well as the country´s tourismimage abroad”. The institute will be presided over by the Enforcement Body´s holder (Secretary of Tourism) and will the have a directory made up by the representatives detailed below or their auxiliaries, and the President and the directory must exercise their duties “ad-honorem”: one (1) as President and five (5) as directors appointed by the National Secretary of Tourism; three (3) directors appointed by the private sector;three (3) directors appointed by the Federal Council of Tourism. In case of a tie, the President shall have double vote. Their powers include: designing annual plans, programs and priorities in areas of tourism promotion and carrying out thestrategy of promotion and international marketing to create, strengthen and support Argentina´s image as a brand and as a tourism destination; carrying out works and research for their aims; organizing and participating in fairs, conferences, expositions and other promotional events mainly abroad; coordinating commercial and journalistic missions fortourism promotion; editing, producing and developing every

action, advertising and promotional material necessary for the fulfillment of their aims; providing their members with advice on opportunities and characteristics of foreign markets. The new law has not forgotten the resources issue, either; so at the time of defining the National Tourism Fund it enumerates:

a) The amounts given in the National Administration Budget;

b) The FIVE PERCENT (5%) product of air and boat tickets totravel abroad; and fluvial tickets abroad, according to ruling, sold or issued in the country and the ones sold or issued abroad for Argentinean residents in travels starting in national territory; (which were misleadinglyderived by Domingo F. Cavallo, at that time, to his own ministerial portfolio);

c) Donations and legacies to the national State with tourism aims, except when the donor expresses their willto leave their assets to a specific jurisdiction;

d) Contributions from provincial and municipal governments,State departments and development commissions;

e) Interests, surcharges, fines and any other pecuniary sanction derived from the infringement of the provisionsof the current law and the rest of the national laws regulating tourism activity;

f) Tariffs settled down as regards ratings for tourism services;

g) Securities negotiation issued by the national Executive Power for tourism promotion;

h) The amount of the sale of publications and other advertising issues produced or traded by enforcement body of this law.

i) The outcome of the sale, lease or concession of the enforcement body´s assets and the ones managed by it when applicable;

j) National taxes and contributions destined by special regulations to infrastructure, equipment and tourism services development, promotion and support;

k) Funds deriving from services provided to third parties and from concessions;

l) Revenues raised by the enforcement body by any other concept:

m) The current fund is set up for a period of ten (10) years, from the enactment of this law on;

It has also incorporated to its text, incentives as well asinvestments. Regarding the former, it mentions: “The Enforcement Body of the present Law together with the other corresponding State bodies, can give benefits and incentives for programs and projects of tourist interest. For that purpose priority initiatives will be considered the ones thatmeet the following objectives: the genuine creation of jobs; the use of raw materials and/or national inputs; the increaseof tourism demand; a balanced development of national tourismattraction; the improvement of sustainability; the research and specialization in tourism areas; and any other which, according to the Enforcement Body, aims at the fulfillment ofthe current law”. It also provides that “the State shall provide with fostering, development, research, promotion, broadcasting, preservation and control over the touristic activity all over the Argentinean Republic, giving tributary,tax and credit benefits similar to the industrial activity”. With respect to investments, a NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR TOURISM

INVESTMENTS is created, which includes tourism interest investments, financed by the National State. Provinces, for their part, shall submit their projects to the Enforcement Body for general investments of touristic interest. The Enforcement Body shall deal with advisability and feasibility of them according to the National Law for Public Investment, its regulations and supplementing provisions. Theselected projects will integrate the National Program for Tourism Investments, which will be submitted to the Federal Council of Tourism, before being issued.

Provincial and Municipal Public Level

Most provinces were previously conceived before the Nation,that is why, and as Art. 121 from the National Constitution states: “…they retain all powers delegated by this Constitution of the Federal Government, and the one they expressly reserved by special agreements when they were incorporated”. But their powers do not exhaust there, Art. 122 states: “They create their own institutions and they are governed by them. They choose their own governors, legislators and other provincial officials, without the federal Government´s intervention”. Applied to the touristic sector this means that not only each province can create an enforcement body suitable for the sector´s management, but italso can and must define its hierarchy and composition. Thus,for instance, since the Nation considers its rank must be a Secretary´s directly dependent on the Executive Power, or theAutonomous City of Buenos Aires[20], it assumes they must be an under-secretariat. For a province like Tierra del Fuego itcan be necessary to create a Ministry [21]; or Mendoza province may understand, apart from creating a Ministry, thatit would maximize including a Culture portfolio[22]. The same definition also projects itself over two directions; downwards delegating it to each municipality in their office, to quote Art. 123: “Each province issues their own constitution, according to Art. 5, ensuring municipal autonomy and regulating their scope and content in the

institutional, political, economic and financial order.” In this way and within a Municipality like Palpala´s, in Jujuy, their tourism policy may restrict to a simple Department [23]. Or, as in the case of San Martin de los Andes municipality [24], in Neuquén city, it can have a specific secretariat attached to the Cultural area.

Thus outlined, these possibilities and, despite some exceptions, truth is that the management model that seems more effective at a provincial as well as at a municipal level is “self-government”. The most recent case is Tucumán´s, linked to the provincial executive through its Ministry of Production. Their vision on the sector´s structure is defined as: “In the touristic activity there is an official, a private and a mixed sector. The official sector is composedof the Tucumán Tourism Self-governed body, its related institutions, as well as the other Provincial State bodies with powers related to tourism, tourists or the same infrastructure. The mixed sector is composed of the Interinstitutional Council of Tourism. The private sector is composed of the Tourism Chamber, trade associations representing it, tourism service providers, the existing associative ways of tourism promotion and development and theones they create for such purpose.” And regarding powers the provincial law gives it, we found the following:

a) To establish the necessary measures for the law´s enforcement and fulfillment.

b) To establish the municipal or communal authorities´ coordination and participation mechanisms which encourage thedevelopment of tourism.

c) To issue regulations related with tourism activities, products and services.

d) To devise and raise the Executive Power´s annual budget.

e) To coordinate with authorities of the whole province´s territory, be them provincial, municipal or communal, policies related to the preservation of the architectonic andcultural heritage, and to the environmental care in the activity´s development; providing technical assistance and the necessary help as regards tourism promotion and encouragement.

f) The powers of inspection and punishment on tourism activities according to this law.

g) To declare those jurisdictions a Tourism Municipality or Commune in agreement with the regulations of the current law.

h) To create, order and manage the Provincial Register of Tourism Services Providers.

i) To coordinate, foster and encourage actions for the promotion of Tucuman´s touristic image and its natural and cultural resources in our country and abroad, through agreements at a national and international level, by means ofinterchange, promotion and joint broadcasting; aiming at increasing the influx of tourists towards the province.

j) To advise and monitor syllabuses in non-university teaching of tourism as well as in Formal Tourism Education; in technical, technological, university, post grade and continuing education.

k) To elaborate and carry out syllabuses for tourism training…”and it ends up with a generic formula that states: “l) All other competence given by this law”.

Note that, somehow, the system reproduces at a provincial/municipal level the characteristics of the national/provincial levels.

Likewise, horizontally, provinces in coordination with others and/or the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, can

generate specific unions. And thus states Art. 124 from our Constitution: “Provinces may create regions for economic and social development, and set bodies with powers to achieve their purposes. And they may also conclude international agreements, as far as they are not incompatible with the Nation´s foreign policy or affect the powers delegated to theFederal Government or the Nation´s Public Expenditure; with the National Congress knowledge. Buenos Aires city shall havethe system established to this end…”At a regions level and for promotional continuity purposes, it is possible that the best example be the Ente Regional Oficial Patagonia Turística[25] (Touristic Patagonia Official Regional Body) made up of Santa Cruz, Chubut, Río Negro, Neuquén, Tierra delFuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands, and La Pampa grouped with the purpose of promoting and coordinating the Patagonic official and private recreational touristic activity; on the basis of goals and policies relevant and concordant with the region´s harmonic economic and social development.

In agreement with Art. 125: “Provinces may conclude partialtreatises with judicial administration, economic interests and common cause works purposes, with the Federal Congress knowledge. And they may promote their industry, immigration, build railways and fairways, colonize provincial state lands,introduce and settle new industries, import foreign exchange,and explore their rivers, by laws protecting these goals and with their own resources…” Perhaps, the most representative case of provincial union for a temporary promotion is the recent agreement between Córdoba and Buenos Aires to combine and maximize both of their tourism offers; their mountain ranges, on the one hand, and the beaches, on the other one. [26]

While there are doctrinal differences about municipal self-government, in fact and within our area, the associative phenomenon has gone deep at this level also setting up promotional units, as for instance the Municipal Tourism Association from Buenos Aires[27]

Private Level in general

It is well known that receptive tourism is a non-traditional export activity for foreign exchange; the privateactivity could not and must not remain excluded. The law itself, following the WTO guidelines gives a listing of actors:

Classified as: I Activities daily related to Tourism (lodging, travel agencies, transport, professional services, fairs, congresses, etc.); and II Activities indirectly related to Tourism (gastronomy, ballrooms, regional articles,artistry, antiques, etc.)

And though the listing may seem particularly extensive, or its observable categories, the enforcement body might amend it since the law allows it.

Naturally, for these providers to engage with the public sector, they will generally do so via Associations and Business Chambers. The most important is certainly the CAT (Argentine Chamber of Tourism) created in 1966; it takes charge of the private sector and collaborates closely with government authorities. It joins, in turn, the AAAVYT (Argentina Travel & Tourist Agents Association) at national level and with more than 1100 member companies; AVIABUE (Travel Agencies Association of Buenos Aires) which specifically gathers the ones from the city; FEHGRA (Argentina’s Hotel and Gastronomy Business Federation); AHRCC(Hotels, Restaurants, Delicacy Houses and Cafés Association) probably the oldest founded in 1905; the AHT (Tourism Hotels Association) which brings together the first-class hotels; FEDECATUR (Federation of Tourism Chambers of Central America); AOCA (Congress Organizers Association of Argentina); AFEET (Female Association of Executives of Tourism Companies) and the CTC (Timeshare Chamber).

By way of brief conclusion

We mentioned at the beginning that the touristic activity, as any other economic activity, generates impacts on the environment. They can be positive or negative.

Just to mention some examples:

A) While tourism may become a vital strategic resource and it has helped many countries overcome several crises; ifit turned into “monoculture” it would generate all its risks. Namely: at the first transport boycott or if it simply went out of style, the industry would resoundingly fall.

B) As well as Tourism can maximize and strengthen the localartistry market, the folklore, etc.; it may also happen that in an excessive supply competition it goes into production what is expected to be artistry, or producingexport shows of what originally were traditional dances,thus twisting the local culture.

C) And in the same way, a picturesque place attracting a large number of tourists exceeding its load capacity, far from being a promising resource base, could turn into a tragic crisis. Thus its infrastructure of services, health, insurance, etc. would become overwhelmed.

So, every community´s role is to maximize the positive effects and minimize the negative ones.

As usual, the key remains in the consciences of people. If there is no community participating attitude, it is pointlessto discuss the laws, infrastructures and resources. Transversality demands a cultural change in our attitude towards others which begins, no doubt, with a change for ourselves. An individual and paternalistic attitude which in principle seems to simplify, in the end paralyzes and freezes. On the other hand, team work, though it seems more complex at the beginning, brings to fruition and greatness.