Argentine Travel Agents Get to Know Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba

Argentine agents visited Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba between September 3rd and 6th, on a fam tour—a familiarization trip aimed at tourism professionals—organized by the GEA Argentina Group in partnership with the Bahia State Tourism Secretariat ( Setur-BA ). In total, approximately 20 travel agents and tour operators participated in the Cairu archipelago leg of the trip, which was supported by the Cairu Commercial and Business Association ( ACEC ).

What the Argentine Agents Learned in the Archipelago

The visit to the Lower South of Bahia was the last of three stops on a broader itinerary through the state, which also included the Coconut Coast and the Bay of All Saints before reaching the Dendê Coast. In Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba, the group explored beaches, tourist infrastructure, and local cuisine, in addition to participating in a day trip that included the natural pools of Garapuá, Moreré and Cueira Beach in Boipeba, oyster farms in Canavieiras, and the historic center of Cairu.

According to Jackson Fernandes, president of ACEC, hosting the Argentinian agents is a step towards expanding the archipelago's international presence and "improving its marketing abroad." Tatiana Harfush, International Market Manager at Setur-BA, explained that the goal of the familiarization trip is to allow professionals to "experience" the destination—from gastronomy to boat trips—before selling it to their clients. Naiara Otegui, from the Argentinian agency Aralar Viajes, who was visiting the destination for the first time, described the experience as surprising, saying she didn't expect "the destination to be so beautiful and so unique."

This action comes at a time of growing Argentine presence among international visitors to Morro de São Paulo. According to the Tourist Profile Report in Morro de São Paulo (2025), prepared using data from TUPA, foreigners already represent 18% of the destination's visitors, and Argentina leads this group with 25,17% — ahead of Israel (21,36%), Chile (11,01%), France (9,75%) and Uruguay (9,29%).

For the GEA Argentina Group, a network that brings together independent travel agencies and has been operating in the country for about 15 years, trips like this are part of the commercial training strategy for its members. The idea is that, by getting to know the destination firsthand, Argentine agents can sell the experience with more confidence and detail to their clients—instead of relying solely on catalogs and photos.

Events like this have also become more frequent in Bahia as a whole. In recent months, the state has invested in roadshows and familiarization tours aimed at specific international markets, with Argentine agents among the most targeted audience for these initiatives.

Why It Matters

For the tourism ecosystem of Cairu, the familiarization trip (famtour) serves as a bridge to new commercial partnerships with international agencies. For the Argentinian traveler in particular, the effect tends to appear in the form of more agencies in the neighboring country offering qualified packages to Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba, by professionals who have personally experienced the destination.

Those planning a trip can check out the access options to the destination in our guide to getting to Morro de São Paulo.

Sources

Additional data: Report on the Profile of Tourists in Morro de São Paulo (2025), cited in the original article.

Kdea360 Magazine (Décio Calado) — Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba enter the route of Argentine travel agents (09/09/2026)