Mayor Andrés Lima admitted that the price gap not only harms trade, but also the possibility of attracting visitors.
He mayor of Salto, Andrés Lima, assured that the exchange difference with Argentina not only harms trade, but also affects the tourism, since people choose to travel to similar destinations such as Between rivers before the price gap that exists between Uruguay and the neighboring country.
“The difference with Argentina is not only affecting trade, but it is also affecting tourism,” Lima said in dialogue with Telemundo and considered that the department is trying to mitigate that situation with promotions.
The department head admitted that they seek to improve the scenario, “even with these difficulties and price difference, especially knowing that in Entre Ríos there are thermal centers”. In this sense, he pointed out: “We try to generate proposals so that Uruguayan, Argentine and Brazilian tourists can arrive in this region”.
On these possibilities he slipped that they exist “agreements with unions, municipalities and sports institutions”, as well as “3×2 in municipal accommodation”, which consist of staying three nights and paying for two. It is worth noting that, according to surveys, if fuel and food expenses are also taken into account, Concord is at least one 50% cheaper.
Sale of packages to Argentina increased 60% for the winter holidays
According to estimates from tour operators and travel agencies, package sales to Argentina increased by 60% if compared to last year, driven mainly by the exchange difference.
Regarding the price gap between one country and another, the latest Border Price Indicator Report of the Economic Observatory of the Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU) pointed out that Salto is a 144% more expensive What Concord. Although it is a high value and higher than the difference of 127% of the previous survey, it is still far from the record of 173.7%, reached in July 2022.
Something similar occurs with the survey of “Consumption habits of Salteños on the border” of the UCU, which reflected that 88% of Uruguayans admitted to having crossed the border to make purchases. Among them, 61% do it biweekly, while 18% do it monthly.
Source: Ambito
