Holy Week came at the right time when Uruguay ended its health emergency due to the coronavirusand with it, two years in which domestic tourism prevailed until a summer season 2022 open to the public.
Now, with the borders open, tourism authorities and operators optimistically await the end of the weekalthough they know that the price difference with Argentina took away a portion of the market.
Remo Monzeglio, Undersecretary of Tourism, told The Observer that from the government they expect more people to come to the country on the second weekendY they hope that this week will be a “hinge moment” for national tourismafter years in which the industry survived thanks to Uruguayans and not foreigners, due to the pandemic.
Thanks to the proximity to Buenos Aires and São Paulo, among other cities with large populations, and to the handling of the covid pandemic, Monzeglio affirmed that Uruguay “may be one of the countries that first reactivates its flow of tourism.”
Francisco Rodríguez, president of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Uruguay (AHRU) and vice president of the Chamber of Tourism, assured The Observer what this week represents the “emotional reactivation of the sector”, due to the flow of people and the number of activities that take place in the country without sanitary restrictions.
The hotelier highlighted a “good start” to the weeka situation in which the weather was “favorable”but they know that Thursday arrives the “strong part” of tourist flow.
The destinations
Camilo dos Santos
In Colonia there was a good tourist occupation in 2021, only by national tourists, and they expect another positive year in 2022
Alberto Prandi, tour operator from Punta del Este, told The Observer that the week so far is “acceptable” for the tourism of that city, and that “no surprises” for them. Prandi stressed that they have arrived many homeowners in the locality, although he warned that several Uruguayan owners have decided to travel to Argentina because of the difference in prices.
For the tourist sector worker the current movement of Punta del Este is comparable to that of a “normal weekend” In the spa. He highlighted that the reservation of high category hotels (4 or 5 stars) is “good”but not so much in hotels of lower categories.
This is due, according to Prandi, to the fact that the former are for people of a “higher socioeconomic level”, and their demand “always increases”, while the smaller hotels they are more demanded by domestic tourism, which has turned into a “small exodus” to Argentina. “Uruguay is very expensive for domestic tourism”lamented the operator.
However, in other tourism sectors the forecasts are higher. According to Monzeglio, the hot springs sector is “crowded” with Uruguayan tourists. There is also a positive view of Cologne, a destination that the undersecretary highlighted for its high occupancy in 2021provided by national tourism, and that calculate It already has 80% occupancy this week.
Rodríguez agrees with these percentages, who calculated between 70% and 80% occupancy in these two destinations and in the east of the country.
Monzeglio also expressed that Paysandú is “exploding” thanks to Beer Week. He indicated that in conversation with tour operators in the area they have told him that “never seen anything like it” regarding the movement of tourists.
Montevideocity with less tourism this week, it also had a boost thanks to the soccer matches between Peñarol and Olimpia, and Nacional and Estudiantes de la Plata, for the Copa Libertadores. According to Rodríguez, in the center of the capital you see several tourists with jerseys of the teams that visit the countrywhat generates a “color” and an “unusual movement” in a city more accustomed to the arrival of population from the interior for the Criolla del Prado.
“Montevideo has a very important offer. Musical, theatrical, Creole and tourist bus offers”Rodriguez stated.
Rodríguez also valued a “greater movement” in rural tourismwhich is added to the range of products made by vendors from the interior at the Criolla del Prado.
Brazil
Municipality of Rocha
From the tourism sector they expect more Brazilians to come because of the exchange difference that benefits them
Monzeglio stressed that in Rivera there is “a lot of buying movement” in the border area with Brazil.
The undersecretary stated that Rocha has not had as many tourist arrivals by few days with leave that most Argentines havealthough he clarified that for the previous two years this is a “major” move in the department.
Rodriguez pointed out that expect more people from the brazilian side this yearbecause the exchange difference favors Brazilians coming to Uruguay. The president of the Chamber of Tourism indicated that from this Tuesday more tourists from the northern country will come from Chuywhat will nurture tourism in Rocha.
The numbers
From April 8 to April 11, 41,648 people entered the country, more than half (22,790) Uruguayans, and a quarter (11,502) ArgentinesMigrations reported. The remaining nationalities are divided between Brazilians (2,273), Paraguayans (1,507), Colombians (431), and 3,145 people of other nationalities.
In the same days, 87,465 people left the country, 85% of them Uruguayans (73,733) and 10% Argentines (9,027). The other 5% is divided between Brazilians (1,744), Colombians (389), Venezuelans (291) and 2,281 people with other nationalities.
In 2019, 238,657 people entered the entire Tourism Week (from April 12 to 21 of that year). Like the first part of the week this year, More than half of those admissions were from Uruguayans (138,743, 58%), and another large percentage was from Argentines (69,881, almost 30%). 14,308 Brazilians, 1,667 Americans, 1,224 Chileans, and 12,834 people of different nationalities arrived.
In that period, 232,486 people left the country, 63% Uruguayans (147,463) and 25% Argentines (59,551). A significant number of Brazilians (10,061 people) also left the country.
the return
Highway Police
The first weekend of tourism there were several queues of cars to enter Argentina
Monzeglio warned that Next Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18, there will be a “massive return” of tourists, both from Argentina to Uruguay and in the opposite direction. Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism asks tourists to fill out your health declaration –with vaccination certificate included– before carrying out the entry procedures at the land borderas requested last weekend.
The deputy secretary of the portfolio also recommended cross the border in all available time slotswhat are the 24 hours, Already “avoid hours of greater solar intensity” before possible long waits, especially if traveling with children or elderly people.
