New Rules for Tourist Services in National Protected Areas

Resolutions 61/25 and 62/25 of the National Parks Administration (APN), published in the Official Gazette on March 26, 2024, approved the new Regulations for Guides in National Protected Areas and the new Regulations for Tourist Permits. The Guide Regulations simplified the existing regulations regarding categories of guides, licensing procedures and general obligations.

Although the Guide Regulations provide that the Argentine Department of Public Use under the APN will determine the specific obligations and requirements corresponding to each category, as general conditions guides must:
 

1. hold an authorization corresponding to the protected area where they carry out their activity,
2. be registered with the Guide Registry,
3. get the corresponding insurance (as provided in Resolution 531/19 of the APN’s Board of Directors).

The Tourist Permit Regulations amended the rules on tourist services within protected areas under the APN’s jurisdiction, which will be subject to the conditions and restrictions the APN establishes, based on:
 

1. the characteristics of the activity,
2. environmental requirements,
3. applicable infrastructure conditions.

The precautionary principle provided in the General Environmental Law 25675 will apply to all cases.

Those interested in carrying out tourism activities within the APN’s jurisdiction must register in the Registry of Tourism Providers. Depending on the nature of the project, the authorization procedure may be simplified or standard, according to the environmental impact and infrastructure required.

Providers must pay fees subject to the institutional tariff in force. In the case of new tourist services, the APN may fix the fees according to analogous values based on reasonable criteria. The APN may also establish a percentage of the invoicing as exploitation rights or the implementation of a certain amount of access rights (according to the provisions of Law 22351 on National Parks).

The Regulation of Tourist Permits requires a licensed guide only for activities that require so for reasons of risk and safety of the visitors, as established in Annex I - “Tourist Activities,” and/or in case the APN determines it.

Lastly, guides who intend to carry out tourist activities involving the organization, promotion, sale, and marketing of excursions must register as tourist service providers.