MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay anticipates 230 cruise calls this season from November to May

Vessels anchored in the bay of Maldonado front of Punta del Este

Uruguay expects a record cruise season beginning November with over 230 calls split between Montevideo and Punta del Este, 80 miles to the east on the Atlantic coast line, according to Deputy Tourism minister Lilian Kechichián.

“The number refers to calls from November to May, 113 in Montevideo and 120 in Punta del Este” advanced Ms Kechichian on arriving in Montevideo from Japan the latest country to join the surge in the cruise industry.

This is also the first time the season will extend for over six months.

“Cruise tourism is a great promoter of Uruguay since many overseas visitors, according to our stats, decide to return to the country and remain for a longer period of time”, said the Uruguayan official.

Uruguay is also working to become a hub for the industry in the region with cruise vessels change crews and passengers in Montevideo, taking advantage of the excellent conditions provided by the air terminal of Carrasco.

The first cruise to arrive in Montevideo is scheduled for next November 17 when the L’Austral and Colombus call in followed three days later by the Aida Cara.

Kechichian said that for the moment Montevideo and Punta del Este remain the two main calling points for cruise vessels, but smaller ones in a near future could also visit Colonia which is only fifty kilometres away from neighbouring Buenos Aires.

In the last two seasons, 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, almost 200 vessels called in Uruguayan ports during summer months.