Following demands from workers and tourist transport companies, representatives from the city councils of Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazu Holiday Rentals reached a (provisional) consensus on the rules for local inbound tourism.
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The impasse began in October 2024, when the Puerto Iguazú city government announced that it would unilaterally suspend the agreement in force since 2019. The suspension was due to come into effect in December, but was postponed until February 2025.
At the beginning of February, in turn, official information indicated that the tourist transport agreement would remain in force, but with updates.
From the 17th onwards, for example, the passenger list would have to include the stamp of the immigration authorities.
On Tuesday (18), however, the press in Puerto Iguazú released news. After a meeting between the Secretaries of Tourism Jin Petrycoski (Foz do Iguaçu) and Leopoldo Lucas (Puerto Iguazú), some of the regulations for tourist transport were modified.
New version of the agreement
According to Radio Yguazu Missions, from Puerto Iguazú, the new version of the agreement maintains the main rules, although it brings the following conditions:
– the service order must be detailed, including the exact number of passengers and their names, or a list with the complete details of the passengers transported;
– Brazilian tourist transport vehicles (operating for Brazilian or Argentine companies) may pick up passengers in Argentina, as long as they have all the required documentation;
– in the same way, Argentine vehicles will be able to do the same in hotels in Foz do Iguaçu;
– strict controls will be implemented to ensure compliance with the regulations established in the agreement on tourist transport;
– vehicles that do not have the necessary documentation will be penalized and retained, depending on the infraction.
For now, the terms of the bilateral agreement on tourist transport are still informal. The process of final drafting is already underway, as a way of consolidating the rules and avoiding complications for workers.
This border still has a lot to improve in terms of agility and organization. Although the real exchange rate against Argentine pesos is unfavorable and the “smart” tourist has other cheaper options in South America, the process of entering/exiting the country needs to change because it also makes it difficult for professionals who make a living from tourism between the two border cities.