Federico Fallenegger defended Argentines vacationing abroad: what he said

The Minister of State Deregulation and Transformation questioned the traditional view that usually criticizes foreign tourism at this time of year

12/31/2025 – 8:32 a.m

The Minister for Deregulation and Transformation of the State, Federico Falleneggersupported Argentines traveling abroad in the summer, stressing that far from “wasting foreign exchange”, they play a central role in maintaining the competitiveness of the national productive apparatus.

The statements were made in a message spread across his social networks in which he questioned the traditional view that usually criticizes foreign tourism at this time of year.

Argentines vacationing abroad “do not waste foreign exchange”

“Every year on this date, a litany begins in which it is assumed that holidaymakers abroad are wasting a precious Argentine resource. But it is exactly the opposite: They are production heroes“said the officer.

As Stützenegger explained, the behavior of international trade at the global level shows a clear and persistent pattern: the countries that import the most tend to also be the ones that export the most, measured as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).

Imports, Dollars and Exports

In this context, the minister explained this Every import requires foreign currencywhich are usually generated by exporters. “When there are a lot of imports, the demand for dollars increases and exporters seem to meet this demand,” he noted.

In their view, import restrictions have the opposite of the intended effect. “When imports are limited, demand for foreign currencies falls and the dollar becomes relatively cheaper, destroying the competitiveness of our export potential,” he explained in his X account.

Fallenegger included foreign tourism in the same economic mechanism. “Our holidaymakers’ demand for foreign currencies is what maintains the competitiveness of agriculture, industry and service exports.“, he assured.

In this sense, he claimed that every Argentine who vacations in Brazil or any other international destination indirectly contributes to maintaining the country’s export capacity.

Criticism of commercial isolation

The minister also pointed out Argentina’s low level of integration into world trade. “We trade three times less than we should because of our size, because of ideas that have made us isolated and poorer,” he explained.

And he added: “If you close yourself to commerce, you become impoverishedbecause you stop doing what you’re good at and start doing what you’re bad at.

Finally, Stützenegger argued that trade openness is a necessary prerequisite for sustainable economic development. “More imports and exports are the path to a prosperous Argentina“, he concluded, while encouraging Argentinians traveling abroad during the summer season.

In this way, the official tried to redefine the debate about foreign tourism, portraying it not as a problem for the economy, but as another part of the gearbox that drives national production and exports.