Uruguay received 2.4 million tourists during 2010, 34% of which the capital Montevideo and if the cruise visitors are added the final number jumps to 930.000, according to Luis Polakof, head of the city’s Economic Development Department.
Foreign tourism in Uruguay during January injected 535 million US dollars to the economy, which is higher than the first two months of a year ago (515 million US dollars), according to the latest release from the Ministry of Tourism.
The Spanish embassy is closely following the difficulties faced by Spanish fishing companies in the port of Montevideo, some of which have decided to stop operating in Uruguay.
During January (summer high season) Uruguay received 413.780 tourists, 40% more than a year ago, with the Argentines leading the inflow, according to the latest figures released by Migration Office and the Ministry of Tourism.
Uruguayan authorities begun this week surprise and random safety inspections of fishing vessels docked in the port of Montevideo following a succession of fire incidents, mostly involving Korean flagged vessels which were described as “suspicious”.
A Spanish flagged trawler that operates in Falkland Islands waters and was heading to Montevideo to unload 700 tons of fish was denied “innocent pass” through Argentine waters and had to steam an additional 17 hours at a cost of 7,000 litres of fuel before it finally unloaded its cargo in the Uruguayan port.
DUE to planned port developments in the Falkland Islands, fishery executives there appear unworried by Argentina’s most recent attempt to interfere in their fishing industry.
A Spanish flagged trawler that operates in Falkland Islands waters and was heading to Montevideo to unload 700 tons of fish was denied “innocent pass” through Argentine waters and had to steam an additional 17 hours at a cost of 7.000 litres of fuel.
The number of tourists visiting Uruguay during the first half of the year over the same period in 2009, increased 5.5% totalling 1.266.898, while revenue jumped 18.7% in US dollars (878.6 million USD), according to the latest numbers released by the Ministry of Tourism.
Spanish fishing vessel owners have warned Uruguayan port authorities that they are considering leaving the port of Montevideo because of the costly labour disputes with crew members when the vessels dock, taking advantage of a very ‘misbalanced’ legislation.