One of the most important sporting events in the region will take place from October 1 to 15, it is the games of the South American Sports Organization (Odesur), which is already generating an extremely encouraging economic climate for the country, especially for the tourist category.
Industry leaders indicate that the ASU 2022 Games will provide an important boost to the hotel and gastronomy sector, items that are still in the process of recovery after the effects of the pandemic.
Sofía Montiel, Minister of Tourism, in an interview with 5Dias television, indicated that this sporting activity already registers significant dynamism for the hotel sector. To date, it is practically impossible to make a hotel reservation. “We believe that this organization is going to generate very important oxygen for the tourism sector, which has suffered the most from the pandemic. To do this, we will be promoting strategic activities to offer tourists a satisfactory experience, and at the same time boost the economy,” he said.
However, the economic impact will not be centralized only in the country’s capital, but in other locations such as Encarnación, where all the aquatic competitions will take place, so businessmen in the industry are finalizing details to serve a significant number of foreign.
“It is important to mention that this type of event provides a very large exposure to the country, since each athlete becomes an influencer in their field, and this is key to making Paraguay’s full potential known,” the minister stressed.
Montiel explained that the preparations regarding the tourist offer will be diversified, for this they placed stands at strategic points such as the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP), the National Sports Secretariat (SND) and the Costanera, in said points there will be services of tourist, cultural and gastronomic information.
HOSPITALITY
Martin Bachmann, owner of the Portal del Sol Hotel, explained that 2022 was a very positive year in terms of hotel activity, after the hard time they went through. But he acknowledged that in recent months there has been a much more favorable dynamic, which has been enhanced by the organization of the Odesur games.
“At the beginning of the year we were already with an occupation of 60%, then we grew in the following months. Currently with sports activity we reach 100% and in some cases we are no longer able to meet the demand”, he detailed.
SHOWS
On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Tourism Secretariat provides artistic and musical shows to offer a complete experience to all athletes and fans who visit the country to support athletes.
Some of the artists that will delight the public on the first night are: Tierra Adentro, Kchiporros, Néstor Lo y los Caminantes, Milkshake, Bruno Méndez, Luis Duarte, Maximiliano Bonnin, among others.
GASTRONOMIC ITEM
For Oliver Gayet, president of the Paraguayan Restaurant Association (ARPY), although the organization will significantly benefit the hotel sector, they do not project a similar dynamic for the culinary sector.
“We do not see that the gastronomic sector benefits much, because the vast majority are athletes, who are not going to consume in restaurants, in the event that tourists come as spectators, it would totally change the panorama, so once it starts We will see how things turn out, we hope that we will also be benefited”, he pointed out.
