Neuquén declares tourism a "strategic activity": the post-Vaca Muerta diversification plan

Neuquén enacted a new Tourism Law that replaces the previous framework (repealing Leyes 2414 and 3197) and repositions the sector as a policy to diversify the productive matrix, today dominated by hydrocarbons. Concrete changes in the official text:(1) Art. 1 declares tourism a "strategic economic activity of provincial interest" that "contributes to diversifying and broadening the productive matrix".(2) It creates the Provincial Tourism Council (an advisory/consultative, unpaid body) and, below it, Regional Tourism Councils "for each of the regions defined in Ley 3480" — it institutionalizes regionalization: each region designs its policy with municipalities and development commissions (Arts. 7-8).(3) Art. 3 subs. m orders managing the sector "under a smart tourism-management system" for provider self-management and data for public policy (press and government call it SIGETUR; the acronym does NOT appear in the law).(4) It provides for implementing the «Neuquén Gastronomy Distinction Seal» with food-service and productive establishments, cooks and chefs (art. 6, subs. ñ).(5) Accessible and social tourism: Art. 17 orders compliance with Ley provincial 3059 (adhesion to Ley nacional 25.643 on accessible tourism).(6) It reinforces the enforcement authority's oversight and sanctioning powers (arts. 20 to 30) and places provincially owned tourism facilities under its administration (art. 6 h). The 2035 projections (2.4 M tourists; 64,267 tourism jobs; 1,592 accommodations; 38,939 beds) are a projection published by the provincial government (Neuquén Informa, 30/09/2025) and are NOT in the law's articles verif. verif · Aug 22, 2025 ↗

Promulgated by Decreto 1003/2025 on August 22, 2025 verif and published in the Official Gazette on August 25, 2025 prob; the law sets no effective date of its own. Regulation falls to the Executive, which was to issue it within 60 days of publication (art. 34); the enforcement authority is the Ministry of Tourism (art. 5) verif. verif · Aug 22, 2025 ↗

Neuquén tourism-service providers (accommodations, travel agencies, food service and those offering tourism activities and experiences), municipalities and development commissions, which make up the Regional Tourism Councils created for each of the regions of Ley 3480, and entrepreneurs who want to join the tourism chain. The law incorporates a smart tourism-management system so providers can self-manage their activity, creates the Neuquén gastronomy distinction seal and strengthens accessible tourism prob. For the satellite ecosystem it opens a diversification axis different from Vaca Muerta (nature, gastronomic and adventure tourism in the mountains and lakes), with a regionalized and digital framework that lowers authorization friction; seal-certified gastronomy and accessible tourism are concrete entry niches thesis. prob · Aug 22, 2025 ↗