He Ministry of Tourism presented the results of the first quarter of the year for this important sector of the economy of Uruguay, with the good news of having recovered —and exceeded— pre-pandemic levels, compared to the first quarter of 2019, with 1,219,298 visitors entering the country during the first months of the year. However, foreign currency income was lower.
Uruguay was once again a great stage that more people could enjoy than in previous years. That was the message that the Minister of Tourism, Tabare Viera, made it clear during the presentation of the figures for the sector in the first quarter of the year, coinciding with the high season of the activity.
In this way, they were 1,219,298 people who entered the country During this period of time, a 11.6% more than those registered during the last great summer before the pandemic, in 2019 —when 1,092,016 visitors were received.
However, and despite this positive difference in the number of tourists, the total income in the sector was less than four years ago: This year, 741 million dollars entered the country for expenses in the tourism sector, while in the first quarter of 2019, 776 million dollars were disbursed by visitors in the national territory. This meant a 4.5% less of income between the periods compared.
Likewise, according to the information shared by tourism, they were 1,141,300 Uruguayans who traveled abroad during this season, which spent 471 million dollars outside the national borders. It should be noted that, although income in the country was lower than expected, the balance between incoming and outbound tourism was still positive, leaving a difference in favor of 270 million dollars.
Other notable data are the 30% increase in internal tourism mobility compared to 2019 —3,996,333 travelers four years ago against 5,190,437 in the first three months of the year—, according to the records of Antel; and the 12.7% increase in the number of cruises during the 22-23 season compared to the 19-20 season.
Argentines and Brazilians, the country’s favorite tourists
As always, the flow of visitors from neighboring countries is of great importance for the Uruguayan tourism sector. In this sense, during the first quarter of the year 716,548 Argentines entered2.6% more than in January, February and March 2019, when the number of tourists who crossed the Silver river it was 698,590.
However, and parallel to the general scenario, the income was lower to those of four years ago, in this case, by 17%: this year Argentines spent 431 million dollars, while at the beginning of 2019, they spent 506 million dollars.
As for the Brazilians, these tourists were the great revelation of the summer, with a 7.1% increase in visitors —145,459 this year against the 135,764 of 2019—; and also, they spent 15% morewith 116 million dollars entered during the first quarter compared to 101 million dollars in the pre-pandemic period.
How were the Tax Free figures?
Likewise, the Tourism report contemplated the expenses reached by the Tax Free during Summer 22-23, realizing a sustained growth in foreign tourist purchases in the last few months. Thus, last January and February there was an increase of 16% in relation to 2020; and an 80% increase in Argentine sales since December of last year, with values higher than those of the pre-pandemic.
In addition, during the first quarter of the year, the premium tourist increased its average spend by 36% in relation to the period prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, while more than 95% of total sales were in east point and Montevideo.
Source: Ambito
