The Buenos Aires Tourism Board is celebrating the 2009/10 cruise season, in which 11% more visitors came to the city by ship.

The number of ship calls and visitors increased to a total of 298,500 visitors.

81% of the people who got off the boats were foreigners, along with 19% of Argentine non Buenos Aires residents.

During the year many hotels ran special promotions for foreign tourists, making prices and amenities attractive.

According to bureau figures, this year’s visitors have been more willing to spend, with many finding cash for hotel beds, even though the ships they were travelling on also offered luxury accommodation.

Most cruise visitors went shopping while in Buenos Aires city, spending on average US$100 a day.