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National delegation advocates for Ushuaia's cruise growth

(Photo: Port of Buenos Aires)
Transport Minister Guillermo Dietrich, right, in Ushuaia. With him, from left, are Tierra del Fuego Ports Authority president Néstor Lagraña, Tierra del Fuego Gov. Rosana Bertone and Port of Buenos Aires administrator Gonzalo Mórtola
Argentina's Transport Minister Guillermo Dietrich and other port and government officials met with representatives of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators in Ushuaia to foster Antarctica cruises from the southern port.

It was said to the be the first time for the public and private sectors to collaborate for the good of Ushuaia's cruise business. The officials visited Quark Expeditions' Ocean Endeavor and participated in workshops about making port services more competitive and increasing the number of lines that sail to Antarctica from Ushuaia.

Participants included Tierra del Fuego Gov. Rosana Bertone, Undersecretary of Ports and Waterways Jorge Metz, Port of Buenos Aires administrator Gonzalo Mórtola, Tierra del Fuego Ports Authority president Néstor Lagraña, Port of Puerto Madryn president Osvaldo Sala and representatives of customs, immigration and Argentina's Naval Prefecture.

'From the national government we know how important it is to invest in infrastructure to strengthen the ports of our country,' Dietrich said. In this case, the works of the Port of Ushuaia are fundamental to the tourism development of the province and the connectivity of the region. Tourism is an industry with great potential for the economic growth of Patagonia for the generation of good jobs.'

For his part, Mórtola said that as a federal port, Buenos Aires is convinced that growing the cruise industry at the national level is possible by helping the country's cruise ports to maximize their potential and generating a national cruise policy.

'We are already seeing results of the measures taken during 2016,' Mórtola said, adding that the Port of Buenos Aires 'continues to bet on public-private sector coordination, planning and predictability, with the common goal of increasing the arrival of cruise ships in each port of the country.'

The Ushuaia meeting took place ahead of Seatrade Cruise Global, to be held March 13-16 in Fort Lauderdale, where officials from the Port of Buenos Aires and the Ministry of Transport will present Argentina's cruise developments.