MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay expects 90.000 cruise visitors this season

The 2005/06 cruise season which was officially inaugurated last weekend in Montevideo is expected to generate anywhere between 60 and 80 million US dollars according to Uruguayan authorities.

Optimism is based in the almost one hundred cruise calls and estimated 90.000 tourists that will be arriving in Montevideo until next April 2006.

The official season launching took place with the arrival of the "Artemis" which was received among others by the Uruguayan Minister of Tourism Hector Lescano and Fernando Puntigliano, president of the Uruguayan Ports Authority.

"We estimate that the cruise season will represent for Uruguay between 60 and 80 million US dollars which includes not only what the visitors spend but all the services that are set on motion when a vessel docks in Montevideo", said Mr. Puntigliano.

Tourism minister Lescano said the cruise industry in Uruguay has been steadily increasing for the last five years, but also cautioned that further expansion will much depend on "our creativity and motivation to keep improving services".

Although "Artemis" was the motive for the "inauguration festivity" in Montevideo, the "Alexander von Humboldt" was the first to call this season last October 29 on its way to Antarctica.

Another grand visitor this month, on the 26th is the "Queen Elizabeth II", the largest cruise vessel in the world, which travels with almost 4.000 passengers and a thousand crew members. She's scheduled to remain in Montevideo for 24 hours and will be returning January 22 and in March.

Minister Lescano also announced that this summer tourists paying with credit or debit cards will be entitled to a nine points Valued Added Tax reimbursement.

In Uruguay most goods and services pay 23% VAT and the nine points rebate, (leaving it at 14%), as well as a lottery involving toll tickets with full petrol tank prizes are some of the incentives promoting tourism this season. The VAT rebate refers to hotels, gastronomy, house and car rentals, and related services.

In related news at the end of the month Buenos Aires will be hosting the 10th International Tourism Fair for Latin America in La Rural show ground. Thirty eight countries and some 1.500 companies are expected to be represented between November 19 and 22.