Uruguay announced on Wednesday, August 24, two measures aimed at promoting the arrival of foreign tourists.
On the one hand, it will no longer require the sworn declaration requested by the Covid-19 pandemic as a requirement to enter the country, although it will maintain “for a time” the obligation to have vaccines against the disease.
Visitors will also be exempted from VAT on several services and other tax benefits.
The Ministry of Tourism informed through an official statement that the Presidency of the country is working “on a decree that will be ready in the next few days” to eliminate the obligation to submit the affidavit required to enter the country since November 1, 2021, date on which the borders were reopened to tourism.
According to the Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera, the decision is because it is a condition that “practically no country asks for”.
However, Viera, who outlined the measure in agreement with the country’s president, Luis Lacalle Pou, noted that, although it will be re-evaluated in the future, the requirement to have received vaccinations against the SARS-CoV-2 virus disease will remain in force “for a while”.
However, those tourists who have not completed the vaccination schedule may enter if they present a negative PCR result.
On the other hand, the minister announced that Uruguay would exempt foreign tourists from Value Added Tax (VAT) on gastronomic services, car rental, and catering for parties from September.
This provision, which will also be accompanied by a 10.5% tax refund on real estate rentals for tourism purposes, will be in force from September 1 and will be extended until April 2023.
According to Viera, this is “good news”, especially because this exoneration was “usually given as from the summer”.
“It is an effort made by the government to make Uruguay a little more attractive from the economic point of view for some markets, such as Argentina,” said the minister.
At the same time, he noted, the exoneration is in addition to other measures planned to encourage the entry of tourists, such as a 30% discount on fuel for those arriving in the country in their private cars.
Asked whether there will be a greater emphasis on attracting Brazilian tourism given the complex economic situation in Argentina, where most of its foreign visitors come from, Viera said that the country seeks to “expand the tourist market” beyond its regional neighbors.
In any case, the minister highlighted Brazil as “a great market” where Uruguay wants to position itself and said that he recently participated in a promotional event in São Paulo, where the country did “very well” presenting itself to more than 30 tour operators of the South American giant.
With information from EFE