Argentina, Chile, Uruguay plan cooperation for cruise development

Seeking a bigger slice of the global cruise business

South America draws just a 2% sliver of the global cruise business. Officials from the three countries aim to work together on regional measures to get a bigger piece of the pie.

Meeting today in the offices of the National Ports Administration of Uruguay are Gonzalo Mórtola, comptroller, Port of Buenos Aires; Raúl Gallo, project director for cruise development, Argentina; Mónica Zalaquett, undersecretary of tourism, Chile; and Sebastián Montero, executive director of Chile's Southern Cone Ports Corp. (Cono Sur). Their hosts are Benjamin Liberoff, assistant secretary of tourism, Uruguay, and Alberto Díaz, president, National Ports Administration.

Crafting a cooperation agreement

By the end of the day, the parties hope to sign an agreement about regional cruise cooperation.

The officials are also discussing their participation at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami in April, where meetings with cruise lines will take place.