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.”
Top-notch presidential advisors in Uruguay in matters concerning the coronavirus pandemic are considering the feasibility of a “vaccine passport” like the one used in Israel, it was reported Sunday.