Mar del Plata lives a weekend like in the 80s and 90s, but with "gas" tourism

The second half of January started in Mar del Plata with

.

Intermittent rains, winds, a elusive sun and even intense fog that conditioned going to the beach until Wednesday.

When the malaise ruled the vacationers, on Thursday the heat and popular humor returned, which lasted until the weekend, when the forecast returned to throb rain and cloudiness.  

Meteorology is not a minor issue

, since "a huge number of suburban and medium-distance tourists move according to weather conditions and if there are storms, most back down. But despite the discouraging forecast, global reserves for the third end of 2023

numbers that mean 13.7% more than the same period of 2022",

point out from the Municipal Tourism Entity (EMTUR).

And the influx of tourists can continue to grow "because there is an offer of 49,511 beds, 3.1% more than there were twelve months ago", adds EMTUR, "taking into account the reservation index, it can confirm that

."

Tourists in the sea in Varese, on Thursday.

Photo Marcelo Carroll

Clarín

was able to access the reservations for this Saturday and Sunday in the different accommodations and the five-star hotels are at 95.7% occupancy, those with four, 89.9%, those with one, 79.1% and the hostels 90.5%.

In the case of the camps, they are at 85%.

Due to the high tourist demand, early on Saturday, EMTUR

available family homes, so that they notify the organization of the availability of accommodation in all modalities.

"The city is full, so owners who want to receive tourism are invited to make their offer official."

Like the Mardel of the '80s and '90s

​​"It is the Mar del Plata from 1 to 1

...

, is a phrase repeated by merchants, street vendors, employees and ordinary people from Mar del Plata. 

Many people brought their arrival earlier to Friday, with skies and temperatures that invited them to party directly to the beaches, which looked crowded since midday.

However, early in the afternoon, this medium toured the pedestrian San Martín and other neuralgic arteries such as Av. Colón and Güemes, Olavarría and Falucho or Av. Independencia and Luro, verifying a very intense movement.

Mar del Plata lives a summer like in its best times in terms of public influx.

Photo Marcelo Carroll

"I came to sell to the pedestrian, look, there are more people than on the beach,"

 exaggerates Franco, who temporarily moved his stand where he sells caps and shirts of the National Team (with the three stars).

There are also the pochocleros and churreros, taking advantage of those tourists who prefer to walk and

.

compared to the previous fortnight.

Guillermo Mitre, president of the College of Public Brokers and Auctioneers, does not doubt it: "We are going through a

with numbers similar to those we had in the 80s and 90s," he compares.

"This weekend

 I mean apartments, chalets and houses."

Not only has occupancy increased in recent days, but "the stay has been extended. Starting this weekend,

are incredible, who He searches for them against all odds, because the economy is increasingly uphill. But the tourist also warns that he can spend the same or less than in his city, being in a destination with the sea and with the plus that Mar del Plata has " , offers Miter an overview.

It is not usual to find people

in the coming nights.

Nor is it often that you see a queue at the gallery of the Roxy complex to take a look at the assorted list of independent theaters.

Still, people check prices, ask if there is 2x1 and

.

"Mar del Plata is about to caramel,"

says Carmelo, a doorman in the central San Luis street, who keeps an eye on the constant hustle and bustle in the building where he works.

"They were ringing my doorbell all the time and since I have the keys to all the apartments that are rented, I decided to go down."

Opposite, a restaurant is empty, but meters away there is a queue at a delicatessen.

.

Surprised by the unusual hour, Fabiana Ocaranza had to go to the Diagonal Pueyrredón store to give her employees a hand, because "people kept coming in" to buy her Milagros del Cielo alfajores.

From the Association of Hotel and Gastronomic Businessmen (AEHG), they assure that this increase is heading towards a peak.

"We can say that for this third weekend of the year

. There is still availability but we are at a record for reservations," remarks Hernán Skrohal (AEHG representative), who points out that " the average number of reservations is for stays of 4 to 5 days".

food at home 

In tune with the economy, gastronomy "accompanies half," says Skrohal.

"Going to eat at a restaurant is an expense and what is happening in this second fortnight is similar to the first.

. I mean between 8:00 and 10:30 p.m. work is very quiet, but afterwards and until 0.30 a bottleneck occurs. Today, with one shift, all those who want to eat outside are concentrating."

On the reasons why this happens, from the AEHG they respond that "it is a matter of pocket, today the vacationer buys and takes it, or cooks it. He is very selective and if he goes out to dinner he does it one night of his total But they are two different things: the record turnout is notorious,

but the pocket remains the same as it has been rubbed down.

". In any case, there are caveats, "since there are restaurants that work with hotel packages that have the two shifts pre-sold."

Sandwiches on the beach.

In gastronomy expenses, visitors are being cautious.

Photo Marcelo Carroll

Rodolfo Parato, from the Torreón resort, emphasizes that "a lot has to do with the large flow of young people.

who feel satisfied with what is offered to this target: nightclubs, hostels, parties, concerts and other shows developed along the entire coast".

A few days ago, Axel Kicillof stated: "The tourist record on the Atlantic Coast is the result of a political decision."

Bernardo Martín, from EMTUR, smiles sarcastically.

"The policy the governor is talking about is the one that locked up the people of Buenos Aires for two years and

. Politics does not solve almost anything; the management and work of the private sector, yes."

music schedule

On the busiest weekend of the season, Mar del Plata programs a diverse musical proposal on Saturday from the late afternoon with free and paid shows: JAF, in Vorterix;

Callejero Fino, in Helena Beach;

Javier Calamaro, in Parque de Mogotes;

Prisma Pink Floyd Experience, in Villa Victoria;

Dr Queen in Abbey Road and the great attraction of the day, which is the presence of No te Va a Gustar, in the Sports Center Stadium.

On Thursday, when the cycle began,

with Delio Valdez and Callejero Fino.

Silver Sea.

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