<P> Credit in Argentina is still relatively tight . Lending has been increasing 40% a year since 2004, and delinquencies are down to less than 2% . Still, credit outstanding to the private sector is, in real terms, slightly below its 1998 peak, and as a percent of GDP (around 18%) quite low by international standards . The prime rate, which had hovered around 10% in the 1990s, hit 67% in 2002 . Although it returned to normal levels quickly, inflation, and more recently, global instability, have been affecting it again . The prime rate was over 20% for much of 2009, and around 17% since the first half of 2010 . </P> <P> Partly a function of this and past instability, Argentines have historically held more deposits overseas than domestically . The estimated US $173 billion in overseas accounts and investment exceeded the domestic monetary base (M3) by nearly US $10 billion in 2012 . </P> <P> According to World Economic Forum's 2017 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report, tourism generated over US $22 billion, or 3.9% of GDP, and the industry employed more than 671,000 people, or approximately 3.7% of the total workforce . Tourism from abroad contributed US $5.3 billion, having become the third largest source of foreign exchange in 2004 . Around 5.7 million foreign visitors arrived in 2017, reflecting a doubling in visitors since 2002 despite a relative appreciation of the peso . </P> <P> Argentines, who have long been active travelers within their own country, accounted for over 80%, and international tourism has also seen healthy growth (nearly doubling since 2001). Stagnant for over two decades, domestic travel increased strongly in the last few years, and visitors are flocking to a country seen as affordable, exceptionally diverse, and safe . </P>

How much money does argentina make from tourism