as in a Exodushundreds of Uruguayans cross the border and march to Argentina week after week. The greater presence of local tourists is noted in Buenos Aires although others also choose different destinations. The mass exit was encouraged by the behavior of the exchange rate parallel on the neighboring shore that for months was out of control.
Perhaps you are more likely to run into an acquaintance by chance in Buenos Aires than in Montevideo. During the weekends the Uruguayan movement in the Buenos Aires capital. There is a perception: almost everyone, at some point, crossed the pond. And even if this is not the case, there are data that show that visits to Buenos Aires reached a significant number.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, in the first quarter of the year 85,466 departures of Uruguayans to Argentina were registered. It was more than half of the emissive tourism of Uruguay in that period.
The total spending measured in dollars currents was 37.5 million. The daily expenditure was US$ 59.3 in a average stay of 7.4 days. However, the largest exodus was observed in the second quarter. Between April and June, 423,538 border crossings were verified, leaving US$146.7 million in that market. The average length of stay fell to 4.4 days and daily spending was US$79.2. Outgoing tourism to the neighboring country had a marked increase and stood at 75.8% of the total.
In the sum of both quarters, it was found 509,004 departureswith a total cost of $184 million. The trip to Buenos Aires in recent months was promoted by the frenetic pace of the Dolar blue. The parallel exchange rate began April at 200 Argentine pesos and began to accelerate. At the close of June it was at 238 pesos, with a gap of 100% compared to the official.
And he kept flying. On July 27, she had the price peak and was traded at 338 Argentine pesos.
LUIS ROBAYO / AFP
View of Buenos Aires
In contrast, that same day the US currency traded in Uruguay at $41.51 at its sales value, while the Argentine peso was static at $0.37.
This Friday, the blue traded at 295 pesos with a gap of 110% compared to the official exchange rate in the retail market, and a similar one in the wholesale market.
Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine that Uruguayan travel to Argentina will continue for the rest of the year, or at least as long as the exchange difference remains in favor.
Traveler’s profile
Fernando Cambón is a professor of destination planning and management in the Tourism Management course at the ORT University, and has been a local tour operator for 42 years. He said to The Observer that the estimate is that the departure of Uruguayans to Argentina will continue. “This continues because no measure is seen that shortens the exchange rate gap, rather it is going to be maintained in the current parameters. There is going to be more inflation and the gap is going to get shorter”, he explained.
He indicated that although the most massive are the trips to Buenos Aires, there is also good tourist demand for the rest of the country. The profile of visitors to the capital is heterogeneous and covers all ages, although the youngest public is the most attracted. “The people who are going to Buenos Aires you are really going to enjoy it as a destination. A good gastronomyshows in the city of Buenos Aires and not so much shopping”, he pointed out.
He added that brand clothing is at higher prices than in Uruguay and that is why there is no notice of shopping tourism. In this sense, he added that other products do not have convenient prices either because they are imported and have values in dollars. “No one goes to Buenos Aires to buy a cell phone. The one who goes does it to enjoy”, he expressed.
Regarding other destinations, he reported that there is a more familiar tourism that he prefers San Carlos de Bariloche and an older public is choosing to visit destinations such as Ushuaia and El Calafate.
LUIS ROBAYO / AFP
Buenos Aires
There are other travelers who arrive in northern Argentina, such as the provinces of Tucuman and Salta and the area of Puerto Iguazú in Misiones. Cambón marked a peculiarity that is being promoted for this month. The tourist operators of Entre Ríos promote the celebration of the Night of Nostalgia that traditionally takes place in Uruguay on August 24. “They take advantage of a Uruguayan idiosyncrasy to sell it in another country,” he mentioned.
The tour operator and teacher of the ORT pointed out that most people opt for river transport (with the two companies that connect with Buenos Aires: Buquebus and Colonia Express) and land transport through private cars or excursions. “The type of consumer who is going to Buenos Aires is not by plane,” he said.
Connection
In river transport, Colonia Express offers departures from Montevideo from 5:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The frequency for the return begins at 8:30 am until 8:00 pm. Buquebus offers two direct frequencies from Montevideo per day, and three with a stopover in Colonia.
In the air, at the beginning of the month, Aerolineas Argentinas announced new connections between Uruguay and the neighboring country. The company added Ushuaia, El Calafate, Jujuy, Mar del Plata, Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, La Rioja, Formosa and Trelew as destinations.
