A new summer season is just around the corner and expectations are growing in the tourism sector, Despite the problems that can be generated by exchange difference with Argentina and the general situation of the neighboring country, which is facing an economic crisis and will define a new government in the coming days.
However, the projections remain positive and even more so if the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism, which reflected that, during the first three quarters of the year, Uruguay received more people from other countries than during all of 2022.
Specifically, between January and September a total of 2,769,734 tourists visited the country, higher than the 2,466,929 who arrived last year and without counting the data for the current last quarter, which will further stretch that difference.
This performance generated an important income of foreign currency, since Uruguay It received 305 million dollars from tourism in the third quarter, while in the first semester it had accumulated close to 1,000 million dollars.
Launch of the 2023/2024 season
In this context, the 2023/2024 season will have its official launch this Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel Gran Cabo Santa María, in La Paloma, Rocha, with authorities from all departments of the country.
The sensations are good taking into account the data mentioned above and even the Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera, He considered that there is a recovery and highlighted that there is constant growth in domestic tourism, which was positioned during the pandemic and has continued to this day.
In this way, in the last quarter the departments that received the most people from other parts of the country were cannelloni with 603,213 people; Montevideo with 532,219; and Maldonado with 324,805 visitors.
On the other hand, when referring to the price gap with Argentina and the escalation of Dolar blue in that country, he recalled that this situation “influences not only Uruguay, but in all the countries of the region”, while highlighting that “Brazil “It continues to be a market that is growing and for which this management has been working intensely.”
In fact, official data showed a 30% increase in the number of Brazilian visitors during the last season and it is expected that during the coming season there will be a total growth of 7% in inbound tourism since Brazil and Argentina, according to the projections of the Center for Economic Research (Cinve).
Luxury tourism, a resilient sector
The luxury tourist places of Uruguay They expect a good season and consider that they will not be affected by the exchange rate difference with Argentina, considering that they have a captive audience, as occurs in destinations such as Punta del Este.
Regarding this situation, he expressed Diego Berna, general manager of Enjoy Punta del Este Casino & Resort, who weeks ago told Ambit that the level of reserves is “almost 20% above the same date last year”, so “there are signs that it is going to be a good season”.
Even, Berna He admitted that during the year “there was more movement than on other occasions,” highlighting domestic tourism. And he clarified that, beyond the exchange difference, “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.”
What will happen in the destinations visited by the middle class?
On the other hand, those places that the Argentine middle class usually visits will have to overcome the effects of the price gap, since it is a sector that reaches summer with a weakened pocket.
In this regard, the senator of Colorado Party (PC), Adrian Pena, admitted that there is “an abysmal difference in the exchange rate that affects tourism in an unprecedented way.”
Taking this situation into account, the tourism portfolio aims to extend the zero VAT benefit for residents in Uruguay, seeking to promote internal tourism, precisely so that Uruguayans are not tempted to take advantage and make purchases in the neighboring country, as can be seen in each “exodus” before a long weekend.
In the same line, the Ministry of Tourism already announced a 9% discount on the VAT in restaurants, vehicle rentals and seasonal rentals—through electronic payments—during the upcoming summer season, as a benefit or incentive for more visitors from abroad to come to the country between December and March.
Source: Ambito
