Tourism Contributed $535 Million for the Uruguayan Economy in January

Tourism Contributed $535 Million for the Uruguayan Economy in January

Foreign tourism in Uruguay during January injected $535 million to the economy, which is higher than the first two months of a year ago ($515 million), according to the latest release from the Ministry of Tourism.

It is estimated that the average tourist in Uruguay during January spend $123 per day which is three times the average of 2005 (US dollar inflation). Tourists from Paraguay spent the most daily, $190 followed by Mexican, Venezuelans, Brazilians, Chileans and Americans. However Argentines were the majority during January (309,448) representing 70 percent of total expenditure by tourists. Brazilians followed with 10 percent.

Of the total $535 million in January, $127 million were spent in hotels and lodging; $113 million in food and leisure and $50 million in shopping. However there is a ‘significant’ remnant of $168 million which is itemized as ‘other expenses’, explained Benjamin Liberoff advisor to the Ministry of Tourism.

Of the total sum, an estimated 60 percent, equivalent to $321 million was generated in Punta del Este, Uruguay’s most renowned international sea resort; another $40 million (9 percent) further east in Rocha; another 9 percent in Piriapolis a middle class resort, while the rest is attributed to the capital Montevideo.

The official release from the Ministry of Tourism underlines that the January revenue is higher than Uruguay’s meat overseas sales, which is the country’s main single export item.