Mar del Plata is one of Argentina's foremost tourist centers. Originally founded in 1857 as a salted meat factory, the businessman Patricio Peralta Ramos revitalized the town by introducing a wide array of new businesses and opportunities.

From 1890 to 1910, Mar del Plata became home to multiple hotels that appealed to the Buenos Aires elite. Following the rise of the Peronist movement and the implementation of Perón's welfare politics, the city experienced a massive tourism boom. Thousands of foreigners brought bountiful wealth from abroad, and the city became a symbol of Argentina's growing middle class. As long as Argentina prospers, Mar del Plata's beaches will be blessed by the Sun of May.