More than a decade of work strengthened the idea of sport as a kickstart to the tourism movement. With surprising income in regional businesses as support, it was discovered that the multiplication was such that any investment was amortized. What was intended to bring international motor sport competition – as much as any other branch – benefited the people, directly, in the form of crowded hotels and gastronomy, jobs and labor, crowded shops and priceless publicity about the benefits of the country, the friendliness of the people and the landscapes to discover. But this point of view stopped being a priority, the ground gained was lost and, with the recent cancellation of the Motorcycle GP in Termas de Río Hondo (with the desire to return in 2025) the cycle that grew since the arrival of the Dakar in 2009 It slowed down and does not seem to have a prompt reaction.
Within motor sport and with first-world work, the thermal city circuit that hosted MotoGP eight times was renovated in 2013. It witnessed epic battles such as those of Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez, but in recent days the event scheduled for April was canceled for organizational reasons linked to the change of government and economic shocks. In dialogue with Líbero, the promoter of the race, who works from the business area, Orlando Terranova, pointed out that “he could not talk to anyone because there was no one”, revealing that he was not able to coordinate actions with the national public service.
“It is impossible to manage with a government that does not manage, because the Tourism Promotion Institute could have said that it could help with little or nothing; but there was not even any dialogue,” insisted the Mendoza athlete and businessman. The magnitude of this test means bringing equipment for MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 with cargo planes from Europe and receiving them at the San Miguel de Tucumán airport, transporting them by land (with trucks) almost 100 km to the Santiago circuit and checking on site with organizations public such as Immigration, Customs, Intercargo, Gendarmerie, etc. The fluidity of the logistics is calculated millimetrically so that, once the show is over, they travel to the United States for the next race and for this the contribution of public entities is essential.
There is also an economic factor that the owners of the MotoGP rights (Dorna Sports) request to, in return, offer the world the promotion of the tourist destination. Even with the chance to face the investment, both the firm that represents Terranova and the local authorities agreed that it should be framed in a party. “We could make the race between the provincial government and our company,” insisted the representative of the OSD Group, “but we both considered that it was not the right time for an event of this type due to the crisis that will come and the priorities.” Whoever bought tickets can recover the value or wait until 2025 and use the tickets, since the plan is to recover the race.
Local uncertainty
The Hotel and Gastronomic Business Chamber of Termas de Río Hondo warned that “2,000 jobs will be lost.” Daniela Juárez chairs the group and insisted that the service is improved every year: “What is viewed as an expense from the national government, we assure that it is an investment that promotes genuine work that provides an opportunity for growth and development.” It is the example of a city classified for an age range that was transformed, upon entering the world map, thanks to a racetrack. Even when a fire destroyed the facilities, in the summer of 2021, companies in the area worked for free to recover the property that left more than $10 billion in economic impact last year.
The golden decade
The story began with terrorism threatening the French organization of the rally that linked a European city (almost always Paris) with Dakar, capital of Senegal. Without security guarantees in Mauritania, the 2008 edition was canceled and left a free space for Creole liveliness, if the term fits, which was activated in an Argentine entrepreneur with the idea of Argentina being the headquarters. Nobody thought about a rally when the little tango streets, the green plantations and the cattle were all that was known about the land of Messi and Maradona. But David Eli, the man from Córdoba whose company (+ events) took on the idea, was so convinced of his plan that tourism secretary Enrique Meyer (from the portfolio later elevated to ministry) listened to him carefully. Certainly, the seed of the “Por las Pampas Rally” that was held in this region sprouted and the fruit became palpable. The project was exposed in France, Chile was included with the Atacama presented as the driest desert on the planet and, leaving three decades of history behind, the race crossed the Atlantic Ocean in January 2009 so that more than a million people in the Avenida 9 de Julio in Buenos Aires greet the athletes. It was stated that this was the most important tourist event in the country, since for ten years it poured riches into forgotten places or regions that face a low season. With this experience, sports and tourism were united for years, sharing ministerial rank under the same roof.
The Casa Rosada, the Obelisco, Tecnópolis and La Rural were scenes in different years
The Dakar left after 2018 and the covid-19 pandemic contributed to the postponement of the World Rally (WRC) in Córdoba, a classic for four decades, which has not yet been able to return. Even with the necessary support, when leaving the circle it is difficult to return with so many interested venues and, as if that were not enough, the risk of fires that limits the time of year when you can go to the mountains. From +eventos they fight to recover it while organizing the MXGP Motocross World Championship in Villa La Angostura (March 9 and 10) and the Raid Rally (June 2 to 8) with the Desafío Ruta 40. Although the Atlantic Coast has the Enduro of Summer in Villa Gesell (February 23 to 25) other motor sport shows have gone and it is a memory that the WTCC touring car world championship, rallycross, Formula E (electric), Superbike and more coincided here. Even the athletes stood out, like when José María López won a race against the right person, who took him to the old continent and achieved five titles and won Le Mans; or when Kevin Benavides learned about the Dakar because he passed through Salta and today he is a double winner, considered among the best in the world.
Merging public and private investment seems to be the formula that resulted with cultural festivals, business meetings and also with sports. The challenge will be to find the balance so that, in an austere context, profits win the fight.
2024-02-04 14:33:02
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