Uruguay: Minister of Tourism called for elimination of PCR test for tourists

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera, informed this Thursday that about 200,000 tourists have entered Uruguay so far this season and advocated eliminating the PCR test as a requirement to enter the country.

In an interview with M24, Viera said that nearly 200,000 visitors have arrived in Uruguay this summer, with Argentina as the primary market. According to Viera, 64% of foreign tourists are Argentineans, 18% Brazilians, and 4% Paraguayans; the remaining percentage corresponds to visitors from the United States, Europe, and other Latin American countries.

Viera said that, although the tourist season “started well,” the covid-19 omicron variant “affected” the sector. He indicated that domestic tourism allowed “maintaining a basic occupancy level” in the hotel sector. Regarding the gastronomic sector, he pointed out that “it has worked well” and that the real estate sector had a year of “many owners and few tenants”. According to him, the tourist transport sector was one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic.

When asked about Argentina’s decision that foreigners with a complete vaccination schedule will no longer be required to take the PCR test upon entry, Viera said he “thinks it is good” and would like Uruguay to “eliminate” the test.

“The more tranquility, simplicity, and above all, certainty a tourist has to plan his vacations, the better”, said the hierarch and added that the PCR test is “an inconvenience” that also “has an important cost, especially when it is a family trip”. He proposed using the faster and cheaper antigen tests as an intermediate solution.

Viera also said that they are waiting for a decision from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) regarding implementing the VAT zero rate in hotels and tourist transport for Uruguayans. “It is a clear and important signal for domestic tourism” that was proposed “convinced that it is an investment from the government but with a good return for the sector”.