The first tender to be held by the Government of San Juan province in 2009 will be the one in Barreal Hotel, and the novelty is that they will add casinos to the tender process, according to Governor José Luis Gioja. Besides, the government aims to tender two new hotel casinos in two other councils: Valle Fértil and Iglesia.

The aim is to put to tender Hotel Barreal, in Calingasta, for 20 years. The papers have not been finished, but, as it is owned by the province, it is estimated that the process would be similar to the one applied in former Hotel Nogaró, also in the province.

In this case, refurbishments are needed on an existing building, so companies were qualified according to the total of the investment and the improvements to be held.

Secretary of Tourism of the province, Dante Elizondo, said that, before deciding to add the casino to Barreal hotel, a study has been performed in order to justify the installation of a casino in the area.

According to the officer, in Barreal there is more international tourism, most of them attracted by Mercedario Hill, the highest of the province, but many people also arrives for other attractions such as La Pampa, El Leoncito, the astronomical observatory, the cross of the Andes, etc.

The study also concludes that the mine production of the department also generates great expectations. Another variable that adds to the installation of the casino in Barreal is the ski center project and the regional park in Manantiales.

Elizondo anticipated that one of the items that will obtain more points in the tender process will be the investment in improvements in the hotel building, that currently has 16 rooms and 32 beds, and other services such as a spa, a swimming pool and Internet, among other things.

In Iglesia and Valle Fértil, it is planned the tender of new buildings that will be able to have casinos. „We are thinking in three-star hotels, with 30 rooms in these departments, which today are the strongest points in tourism in the province”, said Ruiz Álvarez.

The construction of casino hotels in distant places was tendered in 2005, but the process remained void, because it included a five-star hotel casino in Gran San Juan, but, as the channel was been constructed, it did not result attractive for other companies.