The Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay announced that in the first quarter of the year, more than one million tourists visited the South American country, generating revenues of 741 million US dollars. This was presented on Wednesday, indicating an increase in the sector.
Uruguayan tourism authorities included the riverside city of Colonia del Sacramento as yet another possible destination for cruise ships already making calls at Montevideo and Punta del Este. Deputy Tourism Minister Renzo Monzeglio headed the South American country's delegation which participated in the recent Seatrade Cruise Global 2023, arguably the most important cruise fair in the world, held at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center in the US State of Florida.
Uruguay's Deputy Tourism Minister Remo Monzeglio said this week that the South American country was going through the most active cruise season in the past 8 years, with 160 ships arrived so far (116 in Montevideo, 44 in Punta del Este and 44 others yet to reach its shores.
Argentine nationals topped the list of foreign travelers arriving in Uruguay throughout 2022, although Paraguayans were the ones who spent the most money, according to the latest report by the South American country's Ministry of Tourism.
Uruguayan tourism authorities have confirmed 143 calls in Montevideo and 40 in Punta del Este for the upcoming cruise season after meetings between a delegation led by Undersecretary Remo Monzeglio with representatives of the cruise industry and authorities of the Port of Buenos Aires, it was reported Friday.
For some years now, luxury vacationers are increasingly enjoying Eastern Uruguay's coastline. Beach towns such as José Ignacio, Manantiales or Miamesque Punta del Este are hosts to thousands of tourists that are giving an air of increasing exclusivity to these places.
Around 3,000 foreign tourists arrived in Uruguay before sunset Monday after borders were fully reopened to vaccinated travellers following nearly two years of closure to fight COVID-19.
MSC cruises announced on Tuesday that it was cancelling its 2021/22 cruise season to Argentina and Uruguay. “Since the beginning of the year and continuing on the path outlined last year to achieve the safe resumption of cruise operations in Buenos Aires, MSC Cruises has been working closely with authorities from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay to reestablish protocols and joint operation rules for the 2021/22 season from Buenos Aires and Montevideo under the new normality”, pointed out a release from the Swiss company.
Uruguay has received over 200 requests for cruise vessels to call in Montevideo and Punta del Este for the coming 2021/22 season, (October/March), according to reports in the local media. Of the 200, 140 requests are for Montevideo and 60 for the international seaside resort of Punta del Este.
Uruguay's Tourism Undersecretary Remo Monzeglio Sunday explained in a radio interview that his country envisions a quasi total return to normalcy for this coming October and that “we are preparing for the (summer) season.”