Uruguay is experiencing a great summer of premium tourism but feels the lack of the Argentine middle class

(From Montevideo, Uruguay) – After a year, she excelled Exchange difference between Uruguay and ArgentinaUruguay's business and tourism leaders knew the summer season would be special The absence of the Argentine middle class, the main visitors to the country. They expected that destinations targeting the “premium” level would achieve good results, while those targeting other segments with less purchasing power would notice the absence. Preliminary data for this season seems to confirm these expectations.

Between December 22nd and January 14th Just over 633,000 visitors entered UruguayAccording to data from the National Directorate of Migration. This does not necessarily mean they are tourists – the information must then be refined by the Ministry of Tourism (Mentor), by comparing it with other sources – but it does show a seasonal trend.

A large portion of this total of people entered Uruguay via the international bridges Paysandú (20%), Fray Bentos (29%) and Salto (14%). Meanwhile, 15% did so via the port of Cologne.

In the coastal resorts of eastern Uruguay, There is a feeling of “absence of the Argentine middle class.”as announced observer President of the Maldonado Business Chamber, Rolando Rosenblum. If you compare this season to last year “Distinctive” tourism was “better and more expensive”; As for the “medium” level, its behavior was “stable.” While the “cheap” range was the worst performer, as described by a business representative.

These results occur “mainly because of the absence of the Argentine middle class,” Rosenblum said. “On the one hand, there is a feeling of absence; On the other hand, it does not saturate the market. He explained that this facilitated logistical services in the city, and no major collapses occurred.

Moreover, the President of the Business Chamber confirmed that there is “A very high peak for Brazilians with high purchasing power“, but who stayed in the country for a shorter period (until January 7). He added that this audience benefited from the best services in Punta del Este.

Rosenblum stressed that what “saved the season” was the number of foreigners living in Maldonado during the year. The businessman estimated their number at 50,000, and confirmed that the majority of them were Argentine, although official numbers will be known. When 2023 Census data is released.

The president of the Real Estate Chamber of Punta del Este and Maldonado, Javier Sena, estimated it Country Who arrived in Punta del Este 65% more Argentine than the previous season He mentioned that The number of Brazilians increased Regarding last year.

This businessman confirmed that gastronomy “moved better” in the first days while four- and five-star hotels improved “a little” compared to 2023. When compared to the 2017 season, “there are more people” but “they are spending,” he said.

These perceptions will be confirmed (or not) when Mentor publishes official numbers for the season, which it usually does after Tourism Week.

Meanwhile, in Rocha, movement “suddenly declined” after January 7, a representative of the administration’s Real Estate Chamber, Ricardo Pereira, told a Uruguayan newspaper.

“The Brazilians have practically disappeared, and there are very few of them left. A shortage of Argentines has also been noted. There was no audience to compensate for that loss. “It's been declining for years and the local crowd doesn't make up for that, coming for a few days, plus the fact that they go out to spend the summer with the exchange bands,” Pereira said.

Head of the Uruguay Chamber of TourismMarina Cantera, appreciates seek That some destinations like pigeon (Rocha) and Piriapolis Maldonado will feel more acutely the lack of the Argentine middle class that usually visits these resorts at this stage of the season.