Uruguay began to look for Brazilian tourists to compensate for the drop in Argentine visitors due to the economic situation in the southern country, with a series of meetings and business rounds in the South American giant that began on Thursday, August 18, in São Paulo.
The idea is to increase the number of Brazilian tourists by offering tax benefits, such as eliminating taxes on hotels, restaurants, and car rentals.
Currently, more than 60% of tourists visiting Uruguay are Argentines, and only about 20% are Brazilians, a lower figure than in the pre-pandemic when the South American power was the second largest source of tourists to the neighboring country.
“Traditionally, Uruguay captures most of its foreign tourists from Argentina, which accounts for around 60% of foreign visitors. Brazil is in second place and ranges between 15% and 18%. We intend to make the number of Brazilian tourists grow and at least increase by 50% next year,” Uruguay’s Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera, told Efe at an event in São Paulo.
The sharp acceleration in prices recorded by Argentina in recent weeks is leading the country to close 2022 with inflation of no less than 90%, a level not seen in recent decades.
The rise in prices, which today stand at 71% year-on-year, has mainly affected the Argentine middle class, the population that usually visits Uruguay during their vacations.
For the minister, this situation leaves Uruguay as an “expensive destination” for Argentines. For this reason, the country is looking for new markets such as Brazil, Paraguay, and Chile in the region and Spain, England, and Italy in Europe.
With information from EFE