The total number of visitors who entered the country was higher than that of Uruguayans who traveled abroad, which was 2,383,091, according to the data also provided by Mintur.
The largest number of visitors were Argentines (1,169,101), followed by Uruguayans who came from abroad (603,401), Brazilians (383,190) and the rest of America (101,546). In detail: Europeans (75,765), North Americans (47,219), Chileans (43,229) and Paraguayans (34,473), among others.
The Argentines, specifically, left US$727.4 million in Uruguay during their visits in 2022, being the foreigners who, by far, more dollars disbursed in the country last year.
The Brazilians followed with US$274.9 million in expenses.
As for the Uruguayans who visited various parts of the national territory, they spent US$198.8 million in 2022, according to El País.
While the Argentines spent US$622 per person (p/p), the Brazilians spent US$717.6 p/p and the Uruguayans US$329.5 p/p.
Those who spent the most were the Paraguayans with US$1,196.9 p/p, probably because they were the ones who registered the longest stays, with an average of 8.8 days.
The range of days spent by tourists in Uruguay, in total, was between 3.4 and 8.8 days, with the average being 6.2 days.
In which items was more money spent?
Evaluating the items, the highest income in 2022 was given by:
-Accommodation, which generated an inflow of foreign currency to the country of US$431.9 million (30.9% of total spending)
-Food were US$394.7 million (28.3%)
-Purchases with US$188.3 million (13.5%)
-Cultural and recreational with US$135.7 million (9.7%)
-Transportation US$124.5 million (8.9%)
-Tours US$2.4 million (0.2%)
The largest number of visitors stayed in the homes of relatives or friends (926,098 people), followed by hotels (769,546), hostels (45,532), own or rented housing (44,915 people between both). It was followed by camping sites, apart hotels, timeshares and other accommodation, in smaller numbers.
The reasons for travel were mostly leisure and vacations, followed by visiting family and friends. Some 99,634 people traveled to have a second residence in Uruguay, according to reports. And for work or professional reasons, 141,085 people did so.
How much did the tourists spend?
727.4 million dollars left the Argentines in Uruguay, for expenses in this country during 2022. Montevideo and Punta del Este were the largest recipients.
431.9 million dollars were income from lodging, an item that more dividends left the country, despite the fact that a large part stayed with relatives and friends.
The most visited areas were, firstly, Montevideo (622,662 tourists), closely followed by Punta del Este (539,287) and the Thermal Coast (501,246). In these locations, visitors disbursed US$404.5 million, US$614 million and US$103.8 million, respectively.
Another destination with relevant movement was Colonia, with 309,185 visitors, who spent a total of US$ 66.3 million.
As for the Gold Coast, the area received 89,984 visitors, who left US$35.4 million; Piriápolis with 85,317 visitors (who spent almost US$72.5 million) and Costa de Rocha with 80,797 visitors (US$45.6 million).
Where did the Uruguayans travel and how much did they spend?
In 2022, 2,383,091 Uruguayans traveled abroad. Of this total, almost 77% went to Argentina (1,824,203), followed by Brazil (391,071) and then Europe (65,650), Central and North America (40,809).
In smaller numbers, Uruguayans also traveled to Paraguay, Chile, the rest of the Americas, and other destinations around the world.
The total expenditure of Uruguayans on their 2022 trips amounted to $1,140.7 million, of which more than half, some $658.9 million, was spent in Argentina and $187 million in Brazil. The preference for Argentina (although the Mintur report does not say so) was influenced by the exchange differential between the two countries, which led Uruguayans to travel to take advantage of it.
The average spending abroad by Uruguayans was US$478.5 per person. In Argentina in particular, the average spending of Uruguayans was US$361.2 per person.
The range of stays abroad was between 5 and 18.5 days, with an average of 6 days.
Uruguayan spending on international tickets amounted to $260 million in 2022.
