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Dear fellow ARGENTINA (yes, you are on the right site) traveler,
or
better:
Dear
South
American traveler
1.
Letter from the president on Argentina
2.
So, then can we start traveling to Argentina again?!
3.
THE mini group special
4.
African Heritage tours
5.
Agricultural tours and other specialty tours
6.
4starBrazil's specials
7.
Other South American destinations:
Country links
Operations
office in Rio: +55 21 2256 5657,
U.S. Toll-free: 1-866-464-7827
Canada Toll-free 1-866-892-8183
From other countries: +49 711 856 6972
1.
Letter from the president on Argentina
First,
our president drops a few words about the certainly sad situation
about Argentina:
For
everybody who has ever visited Argentina, they know it is
the most European-looking & -feeling country in South
America. This is not only true for the climatic conditions
but also for the ethnic mix and the way people think. The
strong immigration over the last hundred years brought many
well-trained and well-educated people to a country that was
as promising as the US or Australia!
The
country held a strong emphasis on freedom, prosperity, education
AND a high degree of civility.
The
economic hardship Argentina is experiencing these days did
lead to violent demonstrations. While most of the storm seems
to be over, it must be said that compared to a demonstration
of French farmers, Belgian railway strikes, and Italians changing
their governments, these last two months were a rather mild
reaction to an economic reality that hardly could be any harsher
for Argentina's middle class.
-
What has happened?
Argentina
was rich, very rich! Exporting wheat and meat to everyone
across the world, and this could earn a lot of money especially
during wartime. However, with every country that is too strong
in exporting raw material, this led to an overvalued currency.
This inflated currency made it difficult for the local manufacturing
sector to export, and production was further hindered by the
possibility of cheaply importing everything from cars, refrigerators,
etc.
For
this rich agricultural country, it was easy to provide generous
social benefits for its small industry sector. The social
system became as generous as that of highly industrial countries
in Europe, such as France and Italy.
During
the early seventies, after the first so-called oil price shock,
when the industrialized oil-dependent world was in recession,
few countries were taking the money offered by international
banks and similar institutions. Money was cheap.
Many
developing countries took it, however: Brazil as well as Argentina.
Whereas Brazil invested the international loans in - inefficient,
state-run - industries, Argentina took it and spent it mostly
on consumption or luxury items such as social benefits and
overdeveloped infrastructure. Today, Brazil has privatized
its industries - the South and Southeast of Brazil in many
parts are as prosperous and industrialized as many European
countries. Argentina, however, stands there with empty hands
and commodities no one wants to buy.
-
What is the outlook, what has to be done?
Let
us start with what Argentina does have:
-
Excellent conditions for Agriculture
-
All the imported hardware to make agriculture very efficient.
-
A highly trained workforce, a high educational level throughout,
motivated work ethics
-
Good infrastructure (be it for whatever you can think of!)
-
Small efficient manufacturing sector.
With
the devaluation of the peso, Argentina could rebuild and expand
it's industrial basis, attract more tourists, replace imports
with domestic products and produce. Of course Argentina is
spending too much. It is spending more than its income.
There
are two ways out of this: spend less or increase income. To
spend less, the Argentine government and the Argentine people
have to decide where to start; it is a democratic country.
-
Then how to get more money?
It is clearly cynical of other countries, such as the US,
to verbally support Argentina, pledging money, promising more
loans.
That
does not help! For years Argentina let in imports freely,
now it is for the rest for the world to let in Argentine goods.
The US can help more by reducing tariff barriers than by handing
out money. Globalization could help, meaning real free trade.
Not according to the latest model for free trade between NAFTA
and the rest of the Americas, where the U.S. President has
the right to negotiate the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas
(FTAA) to the extent that American farmers are not endangered.
Americans
loose twice: As consumers, they cannot buy the cheaper Argentine
products, and as taxpayers they have to back loans given to
Argentina. Only around 1% of American GDP is generated by
it's farmers.
Argentina
should be allowed to work it's way out of the mess. Handouts
are demotivating and never a long term solution.
2.
So, then can we start traveling to Argentina again?
Well,
what answer do you expect from somebody who sells tours to
Argentina :-) ?
During
the last two months we have had groups traveling in Argentina.
And we have rescheduled city tours around demonstrations in
front of government buildings.
We
no longer use hotels which are in the government district
of Buenos Aires. We have shown our ability to avoid certain
places while still making sure our guests had enjoyed their
trip in full, while also always making this an educational
experience.
Argentina's
natural wonders, the lakes, the Andes,
the Glaciers, whale watching ...all this is far,
far away from any uprising.
The
wine still tastes the same, meat is still one of the best
in the world. The fascination continues!
And
last but not least: Argentina is cheaper now then ever before.
However, since prices are currently fluctuating heavily please
ask about your discount upon booking!
3.
THE mini group special
Great
prices for a great destination: Brazil's state of Bahia!
20 % group discount, plus
bring 8, get one free*
It’s:
Great landscape, African heritage, UNESCO
cultural sites, baroque colonial architecture, unforgettable
beaches and unparalleled value for money.
Click on Brazil:
Rhythm & Diamonds
- additions to
Rio de Janeiro and / or the Amazon easily customized.
Target audience: Active people, also active mature
travelers with interest in culture and beautiful landscapes.
Very interesting for those interested in African heritage
in the Americas.
Minimum requirement: 8 pax, tour must be booked as
stated on website, customized additions are quoted net, travel
between now and 03 FEB, 01MAR and 30JUN, 01AUG and 15DEC2002,
high season prices vary, available upon request.
*land portion only, bring 15 and get flight from Miami also
free.
Similar
conditions are available for other tours - upon request!
4.
African Heritage tours
The
above tour Brazil:
Rhythm and Diamonds also is the perfect
African heritage tour. For your mini group we would be able
to put an emphasis on the slave trade during all sightings.
Brazil's state of Bahia has the longest history of slavery
on the American continent: 1500 to 1888, nowhere
in the Americas African culture is as alive as here,
with many traditions from Angola that still exist in Bahia,
but (due to protracted civil war) no longer exist in Africa
anymore.
Or
new traditions have been formed: A dance that in effect comes
from the training of self defense techniques: Capoeira, a
form of Catholicism that incorporates the African Gods, Virgin
Mary and Yemanjá... as an example.
But
even if you cannot bring a mini group of 8, just by joining
our regular tour, the riches of African culture never escape
your eye!
5.
Agricultural tours and other specialty tours to Brazil
Have
your itinerary partly or completely customized in order to
see what your group wants and not what the standard tours
let you see:
Enjoy
an Escorted Agricultural Group Tour
to Brazil including highlights such as Soybeans,
Coffee, Orange Sugar cane, Poultry, irrigation projects sustainable
agriculture under tropical conditions:
There
are two ways to customize an agricultural trip for your group:
One is to add in or to our standard tours a few days to meet
your groups requirements:
For
example: the Rio
and Amazon tour; add three nights in Brasilia
in the heart of the soybean farming area. During the
pre-Tour
Iguassu Falls & Serra do Mar mountains
or the Tango
Samba Waterfalls tour we can add ranches
and poultry farms and pass through the worlds biggest soybean
fields in the Brazilian state of Paraná.
Or
we can completely customize a tour for your group: you tell
us what your group needs to see and we arrange it for you,
in that case please call us toll free at 1-866-464-7827 (US)
or 866-892-8183 our specialists are in for you between 6am
and 3pm EST.
6.
So, forgot about our Specials?
please
don't, check our latest SPECIALS!
7.
Country links: 4starBrazil is evolving to 4starSouthAmerica
...Learn
the ABC's now!
Argentina:
http://4starArgentina.com
Brazil:
http://4starBrazil.com
Chile:
http://www.chile-tours.travel
coming soon! Get a preview!
Peru:
coming soon! See our Peru extension now at
http://4starBrazil.com/peru/
Now,
from all of us at 4starSouthAmerica,
we
wish you all the best for 2002 and hope to see soon!
Kindest
regards,
Juergen
Keller, President
--
Juergen Keller
jk@4starBrazil.com
http://4starBrazil.com
http://UniversalUnderstanding.com
tel.
1-866-Go-4star (1-866-464-7827) US
Canada toll-free 866-892-8183
fax 1-425-977-7192
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