Uruguay received more than 1 million tourists in the first quarter of 2023

The presentation was given by the Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera, who focused his presentation on relevant data on incoming, outbound and domestic tourism, as well as cruise activity in the country.

Regarding incoming tourism, Uruguay registered an increase of 11.6% in the number of visitors compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. 

In total, there were 1,219,198 tourists who visited the country in the first quarter of 2023, generating revenues totaling US$741 million. As usual, Argentines and Brazilians were the most representative foreign tourists in the country, with an increase of 2.6% and 7.1%, respectively, compared to 2019. In addition,
the Tax Free 22-23 analysis showed a sustained growth in purchases by foreign tourists in recent months, with an increase of 16% between January and February 2023 compared to the same period in 2020.

Regarding outbound tourism, Uruguayans traveled abroad more frequently in the first quarter of 2023. A total of 1,141,300 Uruguayans traveled abroad and spent US$ 471 million. Despite this, the balance between inbound and outbound tourism was positive for Uruguay, with a total of US$ 270 million.
In relation to internal tourism, Uruguayans registered a 30% increase in mobility for internal tourism compared to 2019, with a particularly significant increase in the South Central Region and the Metropolitan Region.

On the other hand, the cruise season was also successful in the first quarter of 2023, with an increase of 12.7% compared to the pre-pandemic season of 2019-2020.
The success of tourism in Uruguay in the first quarter of 2023 is attributed to sustained tourism promotion activity both internally and in strategic markets. 

The Ministry of Tourism worked in coordination with the private sector, launched the summer season and carried out multiplatform promotion campaigns in Uruguay, the region and extra-region.

In addition, the Ministry participated in the most important tourism fairs in the region and the world, supported the Municipalities to hold events throughout the country and carried out a strong dissemination campaign on automatic tolls in Argentina and Brazil.

The presentation of the Statistical Data for the first quarter of 2023 was attended by the Undersecretary of Tourism, Remo Monzeglio; the General Director of the Secretariat of the Ministry of Tourism, Ignacio Curbelo, the National Director of Tourism, Roque Baudean, in addition to departmental authorities and institutional references and the tourism sector. 

At the end of the event, Viera thanked the joint work with various organizations, including the National Government, the Departmental Governments, the Tourism Directorates, the Uruguayan Chamber of Tourism, the National Directorate of Migrations, the Uruguay Road Corporation, the National Administration of Ports, ANTEL, INE, Uruguay Airports and the media, among other organizations, "without which it would not have been possible for Uruguay to become a great tourist scenario in the first quarter of 2023," he said.