Buenos Aires voted top Central & South American city in the Cond Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards 2012

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8th February 2013: Buenos Aires, the Argentinean Capital City bidding to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games [YOG], has been voted the top tourist city in Central and South America by international readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine.

The Argentinean city was selected by thousands of foreign and domestic visitors to Buenos Aires who cited the city’s rich cultural offerings as its top selling point, alongside its gastronomic offerings, ambience, first class accommodation and the friendliness of the local citizens.

The iconic capital city famed for its diverse population, it’s passion for the arts and it’s sporting traditions attracts more than 10 million tourists per year, who benefit from first class accommodation including nearly 500 hotels with approximately 27,000 rooms and 60,000 beds. In October 2012 alone, 196,015 international tourists visited Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires City also has more than 200 theatres, over 100 tango dance schools and around 3,000 restaurants serving world famous Argentinean cuisine and wine. Buenos Aires has also seen a significant increase in the number of visitors to its museums in the last six years. Numbers have risen from 840,263 per year in 2007 to 1,370,500 per year in 2012, an increase of 63%. This significant rise is due to a number of initiatives, such as the ‘Museums Miles Programme’, that have been created to ensure that museums are easily accessible to all citizens and tourists.

The most visited exhibitions include the ‘Doryphoros’ which attracted 300,000 visitors in 2011 and more recently the ‘Caravaggio and his Followers’ exhibition which attracted around 160,000 visitors from October to December 2012. Other popular attractions include privately owned museums such as the Automobile Museum, La Boca Museum, the Mate Museum and River plate Museum.

Hernan Lombardi, Minister of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires said:

"To receive this prestigious award from Condé Nast magazine is fantastic news for the city Buenos Aires and its citizens. To be held in such high esteem by those who have visited and seen first-hand what is on offer is a marvellous achievement.

"Buenos Aires is a true cosmopolitan city drenched in rich culture with a tangible, youthful zest. The people here have a real passion for life and this is clearly reflected in their hospitable nature. Here in Argentina we will always welcome the world with open arms.

"Hopefully we will have the honour of also welcoming young athletes and the Olympic Family for the Youth Olympic Games in 2018."

Francisco Irarrazaval, Buenos Aires Under-Secretary of Sport and Chief Executive of the Buenos Aires Bid Committee, said:

"As we continue in our bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games we are delighted to hear that the cultural offerings in our city are proving so popular with the tourists that are visiting from all corners of the world.

"The many cultural and artistic exhibitions that are available throughout Buenos Aires perfectly complement the unique culture and vibrancy that we would provide as part of the Culture and Education Programme should we win the right to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

"We promise to deliver a Youth Olympic Games that will truly embrace the spirit of Olympism with a focus on the key themes of learning, responsibility, sharing and celebration. Buenos Aires is a safe and welcoming city that is a world renowned hub of cultural and academic development. And with our passion for sport we are confident that we will host an unforgettable and educational Youth Olympic Games that will leave a lasting cultural legacy across South America and the rest of world."

For more information contact: VERO Communications

Sujit Jasani

sjasani@verocom.co.uk

+44 [0]20 7379 4000

+44 [0]7940 375282

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