Covid-19 in Uruguay thwarts expectations of tourism recovery

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “There have been several cancellations for a couple of weeks now, and we saw it as a warning that this could get complicated,” said Uruguay Chamber of Tourism president Marina Cantera, in reference to the hospitality industry and other seasonal accommodations experiencing contractions.

The upward curve of infections due to the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus began to cause a drop in reservations on the Atlantic coast, where the departments of Maldonado and Rocha are located, which concentrate the largest number of infections in terms of territory and population.

Only yesterday, 568 and 326 new cases were reported respectively, which in the first of these territories included health care workers, and prompted the deployment of a reinforcement from Montevideo.

Restaurants were also closed as staff fell ill.

Argentine tourists with suspected symptoms are lining up in overflowing diagnostic test centers, and if testing positive, they are left stranded with no place to quarantine in Uruguay and unable to return to their country.

Punta del Este Gastronomic Association secretary Gastón Figún criticized a generalized relaxation of sanitary measures, which contributes to creating uncertainty.

Punta del Este Hotel Association chairman Alejandro D’Elia acknowledged that although the season is “good” for the moment and occupancy rates range between 80-85%, the increase in infections is high, which the sector had not “anticipated.”

Uruguay’s President Luis Lacalle Pou emphasized in a press conference during the week the importance of a good summer season despite the impact of the pandemic.