Diego Berna, general manager of Enjoy Punta del Este Casino & Resort, He pointed out in dialogue with Ambit that the level of reserves is “almost 20% above the same date last year” and stated that “there are signs that it is going to be a good season.” “Given the booking indicators and the confirmation that many clients are deciding to spend the holidays in Punta del Este, “It gives us hope to think about a good season,” he analyzed..
In addition to the greater number of reservations, the general manager of Enjoy Punta del Este He indicated that “by the end of the year the hotel is restricted to casino customers who have priority and after January 5, the large contingent leaves room, it begins to be sold as a hotel.” “And it comes with very good reservations,” he pointed out.
“There is a mass of Argentines who are historically visitors”
Regarding the public in the neighboring country, he stressed that “we have not felt that instability that is being experienced Argentina”. He stressed that “there is a mass of Argentines who are historically visitors, who always come” and highlighted: “Both those who own properties and those who come to the hotel visit us in terms of loyal customers.”
The general manager of the iconic hotel indicated that due to exchange difference “There was no need to move prices, beyond hotel rates due to supply and demand.” Along these lines, he insisted that “he did not condition the Argentine peso to our prices” and stated that “the Argentine who comes to Punta del Este “He knows that it is very dollarized and he comes prepared.”
Besides, Berna He assessed that during the year “there was more movement than on other occasions” and highlighted that it was due to the fact that “after the pandemic, the people of Montevideo he got used to visiting Punta del Este on weekends, regardless of the people who may come from abroad.” He highlighted that “in winter it was bearable because there was always some proposal like theater,” many of which will continue for the summer, for which he promised various shows and, among them, the farewell of Susana Gimenez of the theatrical environment.
The Flapper Experience
Another sector that seems to emerge unscathed from the price gap between Argentina and Uruguay It is that of private flights. The company Flapperfor example, opened a new route between the Buenos Aires city of San Fernando and Punta del Este, where they see “the beginning of a trend that is increasing.”
Julio Manco, executive director & country manager Latam of the firm, explained to Ambit that “Uruguay It is a luxury destination par excellence and with demanding travelers” and highlighted that the service “is in a stage of expansion in this market”, something that he also attributed to the inauguration of the Carmel International Airport, that “opened new routes and opportunities for our company, which is added as an additional alternative to the most chosen destination of all seasons: “Punta del Este.”
“Between December 2022 and January 2023 we launched the proposal for shared flights on private planes to unite the route Buenos Aires – Punta del Este and the response was spectacular,” he highlighted..
Regarding the success of the firm’s initiative, which reached Uruguay and Argentina In 2021, he pointed out that “all flights had an occupancy capacity of around 70%” and anticipated: “Without a doubt, it is an option that we are going to repeat in the next season.”
Interior Airplane Flapper .jpeg
An increasing trend
For the reference of Flapper, It is “the beginning of a trend that is increasing,” something that he attributed to “the advantages that private aviation itself represents, such as being able to choose the date, time and model of plane in which one wants to travel.”
To this he added “the quality of the service, which does not suffer delays or cancellations, except for external issues, such as weather factors that make the flight impossible” and the fact that traveling like this “does not require long lines to check in.” in”, for which he spoke of “a leap in quality so significant that, once the passenger lives the experience, he does not want to go back.”
The company, which has a network of more than 5,000 aircraft and 200 operators around the world, will offer regular weekly flights between December and January. on a 2021 Tecnam P2012 model aircraft. The planes have the capacity for each of the 9 passengers to transport up to 25 kilos of luggage, while the standard fare is $290 per leg.
“This year the firm focused on Argentina and Uruguay in the generation of alliances with strategic partners that enhance their expansion in order to generate benefits and unique offers for clients of Flapper, such as, for example, a stay package in the best hotel in Carmel”, he concluded.
Middle class tourist destinations, consumption and revenue
Among those disadvantaged by exchange difference with Argentinaone of the injured is the tourism in the destinations that the Argentine middle class usually visits, today with their pockets affected by the economic crisis.
The phenomenon occurred during the last winter holidays in Rocha and Dove, when tour operators expressed their concern by pointing out that many Argentines opted for tourism within their borders and, even, many Uruguayans chose to cross to the neighboring country. The situation was taken up at that time by the senator of the Colorado Party (PC), Adrian Pena, who spoke of “an abysmal difference in the exchange rate that affects tourism in an unprecedented way”.
At the same time, consumption was also affected by the constant crossings of citizens towards Argentina to make purchases, a phenomenon that will take half of the growth in consumption this year according to data from Exante.
Although sales in stores increased by 3% nationwide so far this year, on the coast the situation is negative, with drops of 22% in Salto and Paysandú, according to a survey by Radar Scanntech. From the Salto Commercial and Industrial Center They assure that at times the losses reach up to 70%.
Finally, another item that was strongly influenced by the price gap was the tax collection. The DGI reported that perception fell 1.71% in the quarter, dragged down by consumption taxes and lower income linked to the VAT, something associated with shopping Argentina.
This scenario was warned by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Azucena Arbeleche, who during an interview with Bloomberg assured that “Uruguayan purchases in Argentina harm the growth and tax collection of Uruguay” and admitted that “the budget’s consumption and tax collection projections incorporate consumer spending in Argentina”.
Source: Ambito
