Uruguay Cheaper Tourism Destination Than Argentina Says Expert

In an interview with FM GENTE magazine, tourism expert Héctor Araújo noted that Uruguay is currently more competitive than Argentina for vacationers.

"Fortunately, the exchange rate is currently working in our favor compared to Argentina. Argentina is more expensive than us in many ways," he noted.

Argentina's currency has been artificially supported by the USA, making Argentina more expensive in many ways when compared to Uruguay.

Araújo thinks that the Río de la Plata region was focused on the World Cup recently and believes that this impacted tourism in the winter tourist season.

"We haven't seen much activity from Argentina and Brazil...Football is very important for people from the Río de la Plata region and for Brazilians," he commented.

However, the Punta del Este region has an appeal that is far wider than the local Rio de la Plata economic zone.

"These days you go out and the cafes are busy, they're full. You see many foreigners living here, not only Argentinians, but also Europeans and North Americans," Araújo commented.

While the local economy in Maldonado is busy in the winter, the summer season is when the major tourist rush hits. If the Argentine Peso continues to be overvalued, the summer season in Maldonado could benefit.