Pensioners in Argentina start taking trips again, with 70% reimbursement of their expenses

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On October 1, Argentina resumes group travel for retirees in the context of the country’s reopening, given the low rates of contagion and hospitalization and the high vaccination rate.

In this context, the national government is seeking to encourage this segment with a particular version of the PreViaje program and PAMI, the national social security scheme for senior citizens, in which expense reimbursements will not be 50%, but 70%.

As reported by HOSTELTUR, the Argentine government has announced a robust package of measures to open up the country, with tourism as a protagonist, given the high vaccination rate (almost 70% with one dose) and the consequent drop in the number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.

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In this context, the return of group travel for retirees and graduates, two segments that were banned during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19 infections, was enabled as of October 1.

Shortly before these announcements, President Alberto Fernández and the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Matías Lammens, had launched the second edition of the PreViaje program.

A domestic tourism incentive scheme in which the state reimburses travelers 50% of the cost of their domestic trip through a pre-loaded card for them to use the balance on that or another trip.

But in the light of the reopening above of group trips for senior citizens, the government launched this weekend an improved and specific proposal for this segment, together with PAMI, the social security scheme for Argentine retirees.

The event was led by Lammens, the head of PAMI, Luana Volnovich; the national cabinet chief, Juan Manzur; the Province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof; and the mayor of the city of Pilar, Federico Achaval.

Meanwhile, the governor of Santiago del Estero, Gerardo Zamora, and the executive secretary of Inprotur, Ricardo Sosa, participated via videoconference from Termas de Río Hondo, as well as the mayor of the Partido de la Costa, Cristian Cardozo, from Buenos Aires.

In this regard, Lammes said: “The second edition of PreViaje is a tremendous success: in just one week, we have sold 80% of what we sold last year. That has to do with this new stage that is coming: a stage of reunions, of traveling again.”

Volnovich added: “Thanks to the fact that more than 90% of the elderly in our country are vaccinated, we can begin to think about this plan for the future that includes travel for our members.

Members must register and upload their vouchers on the PreViaje website to access the benefit and recover these credits. Those who have already used the gift to travel by November 2021 will also receive a 70% refund.