Tourism operators in the 'Happy City' of Mar del Plata are betting on boosting attendance during the last long weekend of the season. The initiative comes from the local Textile Chamber, which is launching an Easter promotion with discounts and special offers on knitted products, sweaters, and pullovers—goods that are part of the city's productive DNA. The campaign, titled 'Easter with a Sweater,' will run from April 2 to 5, with the goal of boosting sales and highlighting the work of the local textile industry, as reported by the Argentine News Agency. During the first long weekend after the summer season, Mar del Plata registered a hotel occupancy rate of 42%, in a context marked by adverse weather conditions and the proximity of the upcoming holiday, according to data shared by the local Hotel and Gastronomic Business Association (AEHG). Declared of tourist interest by Emturyc, this initiative that articulates commerce, production, and Mar del Plata's identity aims to capitalize on the tourist movement generated by one of the most important holidays outside of the high season. In line with this, the Textile Chamber has also called on related businesses to join the promotion. Participation is free and seeks to increase the visibility of businesses, boost customer circulation, and strengthen the positioning of the textile sector in Mar del Plata. Weather forecasts for the first days of April indicate good weather with average temperatures between 16 and 22 degrees, which in this coastal city promises cooler evenings perfect for wearing a sweater. Bad weather and bad mood. On the contrary, the weather conditions this Saturday and Sunday, with heavy rains and strong winds, discouraged spontaneous travel, especially in a city where a large part of the tourist experience is linked to outdoor activities. Thus, adverse weather directly impacted occupancy and last-minute reservation levels. Despite these limitations, an increase in arrivals and some activity was recorded from Friday in different parts of the city, particularly in the center and main commercial areas. Meanwhile, traffic towards the Atlantic Coast showed high levels, with 'intense' circulation on key routes like 2 and 11, reflecting a steady flow of visitors, though lower than expected. Low intensity. Nationally, the Confederation of Argentine Medium Enterprises (CAME) classified the long weekend's tourism movement as 'low intensity,' attributing this result to both the period's structure and the current level of the population's purchasing power. According to the entity, mobilization reached 1,012,000 people, while the economic impact was estimated at 231,084 million pesos. It also indicated that the average daily expenditure per tourist was 103,793 pesos, representing a 7% decrease compared to the February Carnival holiday. Compared to previous years, the closest precedent shows that during last Easter, occupancy was between 50% and 60%, although in 2024 the figure was significantly higher, with over 210,000 tourists and an average of 85%. With this background, the sector maintains growth expectations for this year, with reservations currently around 40% and the expectation that they will continue to rise.
