Buenos Aires approves protocol for congresses and conventions

Credit: Buenos Aires City Council

The government of Buenos Aires approved on the 2^nd of March the protocol for the prevention and management of cases of COVID-19 for the gradual return of associative and corporate conventions and face-to-face exhibitions. This measure is part of the comprehensive tourism reactivation plan that the city has developed with the private sector and will be applied in convention centres, exhibition centres and hotel event rooms or spaces, among others.

“Before the pandemic, Buenos Aires was recognised as the leading city in Latin America for business tourism and one of the best in the world. This is a key measure and the result of joint work with the sector to recover meeting tourism in the city,” said Fernando Straface, secretary general and international relations of the city.

The protocols include a series of prevention and care measures for the public, providing recommendations and suggestions to enable appropriate epidemiological management in case of detection of a suspected or confirmed case and its close contacts.

“This is a first step that will allow the resumption of meeting tourism. Buenos Aires is a global city, host to major events and leader in Latin America. Therefore, we will continue to work to consolidate our proposal, which includes first-rate cultural diversity, infrastructure for events, local talent to organise them and a scientific community to enjoy them”, said Gonzalo Robredo, president of the Buenos Aires Tourism Entity.

According to the annual ranking established by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the city is the best destination in the Americas for meeting tourism and ranks 11th in the world. In 2019, 127 congresses and conventions were held: 450,000 people visited the city for business purposes in 2019, with a total expenditure of US$500 million, according to information from the Buenos Aires Tourism Board.

As part of its progressive plan to implement tourism in a safe and responsible manner, the government of the city of Buenos Aires has also approved protocols for hotel and para-hotel accommodation for tourism purposes, outdoor guided tours, tourist transport, continuous events, retail shops, where travel agencies are allowed.

As far as tourism is concerned, the city currently has 10 safe outdoor tourist routes in all districts. In addition, museums, outdoor shows, the Eco Park, the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, as well as markets and food courts, have been reactivated.

Protocol for the prevention and management of Covid-19 cases in associative and corporate meetings and exhibitions. Among its main points, the following recommendations stand out:

– A physical distance of 2 metres between people should be maintained at all times. – No socialising and exchange should take place before, during or after the meeting. If there are breaks, participants should leave the enclosed space and return when the meeting continues.

– In the case of more than one meeting per day, the entry and exit of participants between meetings must be done with a reasonable alternation time, which cannot be less than 45 minutes.

– The opening hours of the spaces should try to avoid peak hours. Staggered entry and exit times should be encouraged to avoid overcrowding.

– Before entering the facility, persons attending should take their temperature. If a temperature of 37.5°C or higher is recorded, the person will not be allowed to enter, and the protocol for suspected cases will be activated.

– Food will not be allowed during the meeting.

For more information, you can visit https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/RequisitosTuristas where you can access the full protocols and know all the details.

Source: Buenos Aires City Council