MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Uruguay expects a no-growth cruise season; Buenos Aires port rates discourage companies
“We are expecting 97 cruise calls in Montevideo and 54 in Punta del Este and some 300.000 landings”, said minister Kechichian 
High rates to access Buenos Aires, imposed by the previous Argentine government, are considered “excessive” by some of those companies. 
This week Uruguay is hosting a two-day regional cruise and fluvial tourism industry conference in Punta del Este Uruguay is expecting some 150 cruise calls this coming season 2016/17 which begins next month and represents some 300.000 visitors, according to Tourism minister Liliam Kechichian who nevertheless admitted that growth prospects are somehow behind schedule because of the high costs of reaching and operating in the port of Buenos Aires.
“We are expecting 97 cruise calls in Montevideo and 54 in Punta del Este although we will continue to suffer the consequences of some absent cruise companies which normally tour Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay”, said Kechichian who added that the high rates charged to have channel access to Buenos Aires, imposed by the previous Argentine government, are considered “excessive” by some of those companies.
Kechichian revealed that Uruguay has been in contact with Argentine port authorities on the issue and most probably for the following season, 2017/18, “things will be looking much better” and again the companies involved in the Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay circuit “should be returning”.
However ”re-conquering the cruise business that was diverted to Asian circuits won't be an easy task, but our port authorities are in standing contact with Buenos Aires and I've done something similar with (Argentine) tourism minister Gustavo Santos“ pointed out the Uruguayan minister.
According to official stats during the 2015/16 cruise season, 105 vessels called in Montevideo and 56 in Punta del Este totaling 431.000 passengers of which 317.000 including crew members landed in Uruguay. This was estimated to have injected some 11 million dollars to the local economy.
Kechichian pointed out that despite less calls, ”we are expecting a similar number of landings as last year, around 300.000, since although the number of vessels is less they carry more passengers“
The minister also confirmed that Costa Cruises will continue to make Montevideo its passengers' exchange port and Norwegian Cruise Line ”could finally decide to return“. On related issues Kechichian also underlined the improved security measures in the Old City of Montevideo with an extended streets' camera system. ”Last season we didn't have a single complaint even involving petty crimes”.
Cruise tourism conference in Punta del Este
This week October 27 and 28 Punta del Este will be hosting the Fourth Regional meeting of Cruises and Fluvial tourism with the purpose of promoting the cruise business and exchange ideas with the industry.
Tourism and port authorities together with cruise companies, tourism operators, and local and international experts will be meeting of conferences and debates during the two-day meeting at the Punta del Este Convention and Exhibition Center.
The event is sponsored by the Uruguayan ministry of Tourism, the National Ports Authority, the Hydrographic Department and the local governments of Colonia, Maldonado and Montevideo.
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Read all commentsThis female is as stupid and neurotic as they come and her grip on truth is on a par with another female who posts MP.
Oct 22nd, 2016 - 11:49 am -2What this idiot has not said is how PdelE is overburdened with taxes from Maldonado Intendencia because it is seen a the 'milch cow'.
The intendencia tried and failed to coerce the cruisers into using the local laughingly called 'boats' or death traps to disembark their passengers and when that didn't work they put the landing fee up more than double.
They also tax the businesses in the 'shopping centre' until their pips squeak which raises prices through the roof.
She is also the moron who pushed through the daylight 'losing hour'. Uruguay is the only country out of step with the change to 'spring forward' hour in SA and she did this 'for the tourists'!
Quite how tourists are going to be served breakfasts at 5.30 in the morning and be happy to be in the dark by 19.30 seems no problem to her and as for the increase in electricity costs she has an ally in the Pres, Vasquez himself. 'The savings are not worth changing things, they are only U$D 200k-300k' he claimed. Such a shame that he does not pay the bills at home but must leave it to the wife otherwise he would that such a figure is laughable. El Pais thought so to and had it independently checked by an energy company who proved that the real cost was over U$D1M.
The Broad Fraud in action yet again.
Many tourists when asked what they thought of the country during last season were unhappy with how dirty things were in MVD, fed up with being asked if they wanted to buy drugs and being told by hotels to be careful of the crime. The cost of things was seen as a 'joke'. Not many plan to return.
They will be really pleased that Vasquez & Co have just passed the new law enabling early release from prison of 'no person harmed' muggers, burglars, wait for it: RAPISTS!
Also, no need for reoffenders to finish out their full prison term from before when they are banged up next time!
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