Uruguay cuts cruise tariff 20%, weighs new Punta del Este facilities

These initiatives were announced at the X Encuentro Regional de Cruceros y Turismo Náutico (10th Regional Meeting of Cruises and Nautical Tourism) held in Punta del Este Aug. 1-2. The event drew public and private sector officials from Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

Uruguay's 2023/24 cruise season

During Uruguay's 2023/24 cruise season 324,000 passengers arrived at Montevideo and Punta del Este on 187 calls, and spent about $17m in the country, according to Tourism Minister Eduardo Sanguinetti.

Tourism Minister Eduardo Sanguinetti said Uruguay aims to raise cruise numbers in a sustainable way, increase overnight calls and improve the quality of cruise services

'These are very good numbers,' Sanguinetti said, adding Uruguay aims to raise traffic in a sustainable way, increase overnight calls and improve the quality of cruise services.

He discussed the possibility of building new docking points at Maldonado, a project being jointly analyzed with the Ministry of the Environment, the National Naval Prefecture and the National Ports Administration (ANP).

Tariff reduction to increase competitiveness

ANP President Juan Curbelo said the reduced cruise tariff for the upcoming season is to maintain Uruguay's competitiveness.

Neighboring Argentina recently rolled out discounts for the 2024/25 period that can cut Buenos Aires port costs in half.

Chile urges regional cooperation

Officials from Chile's Southern Cone Ports Corp. (Conosur) and Undersecretary of Tourism Verónica Pardo were among the attendees.

Addressing a panel on port management models, Conosur President Eduardo Arancibia and VP Juan Marcos Mancilla discussed infrastructure projects aimed at growing cruise traffic.

Meetings like the Punta del Este conference are important, Arancibia said, to learn about public and private sector cruise activities, exchange experiences and strengthen regional integration.

From left, Conosur VP Juan Marcos Mancilla, Uruguay Tourism Minister Eduardo Sanguinetti, Chile Undersecretary of Tourism Verónica Pardo, Conosur President Eduardo Arancibia and CLIA's regional lead, Marco Ferraz

'We must work together as a region to make our tourist attractions known to the world and promote the growth of this industry in the Southern Cone,' Arancibia said.

Attendees also included CLIA Brazil Executive President Marco Ferraz, the regional lead for Cruise Lines International Association; Dario Rustico, GM for North and South America at Costa Cruises; and Marisa Schwarzbock, operations manager, MSC Cruises, based in Argentina.