The possibility of attracting tourists from the region and other countries
Regarding the expectations for this summer 2024, Monzeglio admitted that “a higher level of visitors is expected due to the greater number of frequencies and flights and recalled that “by not having a flag airline, it is the companies that make the decisions to start a route.”
He Undersecretary of Tourism He maintained that “companies are within their rights and make commercial decisions in their interest,” but called for “finding a way around it to benefit us.”
In that case, he graphed the flights he promoted Argentinian airlines toward Bariloche and Mar del Plata. “It is not exactly for people from Bariloche to come here, but for us these frequencies are welcome because we know that tourists with greater purchasing power turn to visit the south of Argentina and we see that as an opportunity for tourists to come to the country. Europeans, Americans and other nationalities, with good purchasing power, who say ‘we have a direct flight to Montevideo, Why not use it?’ As there is frequency, more people come.”
Along the same lines, the brand new flight that promotes Blue from Montevideo toward Curitiba. “A lot of people come from Brazil and high and medium-high purchasing power. This frequency has been important because it has brought us an additional Brazilian audience,” said the leader.
Finally, he stated that it is also possible to attract tourists with the frequencies at Miami, Lima and Santiago. “You can attract tourists from those destinations. To countries like Peru either Chili sometimes they have a hard time buying the concept Uruguay because they understand that they have similar options in USA or in the Caribbean”, he acknowledged.
However, he stated that “the Chilean tourist in February usually disembarks in Uruguay in a very important number, due to the judicial fair that takes place this month. That is an important tourism to consider and above all to encourage its growth.” Along the same lines he put the visits from Mexico to the country, noting that “they have been increasing their arrival in recent years.”
Connectivity will give a key boost to the season
Meanwhile, since Airports of Uruguay They share “good expectations.” The Operations and Passenger Experience Manager, Federico Cabrera, held in dialogue with Ambit that will contribute the operation of SKY Airline starting next January 2, which “will begin operating on January 2 to connect Montevideo with Santiago de Chile, Lima, Salvador de Bahía and Florianópolis”.
At the same time, he reviewed that “Latam increased its frequencies to Santiago de Chile and Lima,” while indicating that “Jetsmart did the same with the Chilean capital and Rio de Janeiro, while Goal added special flights to that same Brazilian city.”
Along the same lines, he expressed Alejandro Rivero, ggeneral orientation of Punta del Este Airport, one of the most chosen destinations. “The connection with Buenos Aires through Argentinian airlines added 21 weekly frequencies, increasing the number of seats available by 40% compared to the previous season.”
“Besides, Paranair connect with Assumption in three weekly frequencies that will extend until mid-February and Blue connect Uruguay with Brazil with six weekly frequencies that are distributed between Porto Alegre and San Pablo”, he pointed out.
Private flights intensify
Rivero He also specified that between this Tuesday and Wednesday they will receive “more than 120 landings from private aviation, the majority from Argentina”, since the next few days coincide with the historical date of highest concentration of passengers.
In turn, he stated that in Punta del Este “most regional visitors come from Argentina, reaching 70%, while Brazil “It is growing, with 20%.” While, Cabrera added that “in the Carrasco Airport, most regional visitors come from Brazil, and internationally they come from Europe”.
In turn, he dedicated a paragraph to Carmel Airport, inaugurated a year ago. “It mainly receives flights from Argentina, due to the proximity with Buenos Aires which allows you to be in 15 minutes. The balance is very positive and this year we will end with almost 3,800 passengers, almost double the initial movement,” he stated and recalled that “the activity in this terminal is 100% private aviation,” he stated.
Private flight.webp
What do tourism agencies expect?
For its part, Carlos Pera, president of the Uruguayan Association of Travel Agencies (Audavi), he told Ambit that for this summer “I don’t dare to say that it will be excellent, but I am brutally optimistic that we will have a good season” and he highlighted that the growth of the air connectivity “It will help the effects of tourism renewal.”
Pear He appreciated that “the government has had the sensitivity to allow foreign companies to cover many routes” and valued the granting of permits, while, when asked about the most chosen destinations, he highlighted that they will be “Punta del Este, Montevideo and Colonia, without a doubt.”
However, he postulated the idea of “a Uruguay tourist” and ventured that “Rocha It has been very hard hit and I predict a good season,” while anticipating that “thermal destinations are also going to improve strongly.”
When considering the tourist development of the different destinations, he highlighted other sites such as the mining circuits of Artigas; water parks and shopping tourism in Rivera and the attractive festivals of the border cities with Brazil”.
The commitment to the Argentine middle class
Finally, he considered that “the group that moves the needle in the summer season is the Argentine middle class” and expressed himself positive about it. “I am not going into political-partisan issues, but the change of government in Argentina gave an injection of something, I don’t know if more tranquility or confidence,” he said. Pear.
For the owner of Audavi, “the number of inquiries for high-end rentals increased brutally and for the first 15 days of January, that segment of rentals in Punta del Este, They are practically all rented.”
Finally, he commented on the exchange difference. “I don’t know what conditions the Argentine middle class is in at the moment, but the exchange rate situation would say that today it is neither working for nor against,” he concluded.
Source: Ambito
