The economic situation in Argentina led citizens of the neighboring country to start looking for vacation spots early, being East Point one of the most popular destinations and for which the number of reservations has increased by 5% so far this year, an encouraging figure for the upcoming summer season.
Tourist sector representatives consulted by Scope They pointed out two factors in the return of Argentines to the Uruguayan coast: the economic uncertainty in the Argentina which decreases and the increase in price of their country, which makes the rest options more competitive Uruguay.
After two years with a Argentina very cheap – compared to the prices of Uruguay – which encouraged its citizens to travel around their country, there is a premise that, for Javier AzcurraDirector of Institutional Relations and Sales at Enjoy Punta del Este, It was very clear: “The Argentine is very loyal to East Point, “This left a significant level of tourism that surpasses any temporary situation.”
However, the forecasts for the upcoming summer season, according to specialists, are much more encouraging compared to 2023. “We are projecting a better season for this summer than the previous one and we have a very good level of reservations,” said Azcurra.
“We are optimistic, there is a higher volume of consultations than in previous years. We have some thermometers that indicate how the season may turn out, one of them is this spring week where we see a lot of movement,” he agreed. Gabriel Guerra, general manager of The Grand Hotel.
Another factor to take into account is the possibility that the government of Javier Milei progress with the reduction of Country Tax that taxes the dollar card, making purchases more expensive credit card abroad by 30%, which could have a positive impact on the Uruguayan tourism sector.
More Argentines throughout the year, an indication of a good season
In this sense, the good forecasts respond to a measurement based on the increase in reservations by Argentines throughout the year. “What we rely on to say that it will be a season with a much greater response from the Argentine public is what the year has been like,” explained Azcurra.
According to the numbers provided by the director of Enjoy Punta del Estethe increase in reservations by Argentines so far in 2024, compared to last year, is 5%, while spending increased by 10%.
“There has been a flow of many consultations and they are higher than last year,” he added. Javier Senapresident of the Real Estate Chamber of East Pointin relation to the increase in Argentines interested in reserving rentals in advance for their summer vacations in the Uruguay.
Argentine price increase
According to Azcurra, the consultations are focused on the months of December and February. “There is a higher level of confirmations as well,” he said, intuiting that the advance of consultations and reservations responds to pre-pandemic logic.
Among the reasons is the increase in the price of dollars in the neighboring country, which causes the gap with Uruguay be less. “It is not the Argentina “Last year’s price was cheaper and we are not that expensive in comparison, which makes us an option worth considering,” Guerra explained.
“Prices in Argentina are rising and are looking like those of Uruguay, Therefore, next season we will surely have more Argentines and it may also be that spending will increase,” added Sena. Another factor that the president of the chamber adds is that the prices for the temporary rentals In the summer, the number of visitors is the same as last year. “This is an incentive for Argentines and for those who come to visit us,” he said.
According to the manager of The Grand Hotelby this date there is already more presence of Argentines in East Point compared to last year. “We don’t know if it’s resignation or despair, but we see more certainty in Argentina,” he commented, noting that more reservations have been made for this time of year compared to 2023.
Source: Ambito
