Travel Next Minas: Cristian Pos and the promotion of Uruguay as a tourist destination

The roadshow brought together more than 120 Brazilian and Uruguayan operators in two major cities, with the aim of expanding the country's presence in the national market.

"We present Uruguay as a destination and demonstrate that we're not just Punta del Este, Montevideo, and Colonia. There are countless offerings in other departments of the country that deserve to be explored by both tour operators and tourists," Pos emphasized.

The program included presentations by Uruguayan operators and even a musical performance, in a strategy that combines business and cultural experience.

Air connectivity: a priority to increase tourist flow

One of the central topics of the visit was air connectivity between Brazil and Uruguay. Currently, Belo Horizonte does not have a direct flight to Montevideo, but negotiations are underway to resume the route.

"Since we took office in March 2025, Minister Pablo Menoni has prioritized this issue. Not a week has gone by without meetings to discuss incentives and agreements with airlines," Pos explained.

According to him, in addition to Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre is considered a priority for reestablishing flights. "If we want to increase Brazilian tourism, we need to expand the air network with the country," he emphasized.

First participation in Travel Next Minas

This was Uruguay's first visit to Travel Next Minas, the event's third edition. The director was accompanied by the Minas Gerais State Department of Tourism and toured the Brazilian booths.

"It's a very interesting fair, with a diverse range of products and a strong presence from Brazilian states. For us, the strategy here in Belo Horizonte is more focused on B2C contact, strengthening partnerships between operators," said Pos.

Even without a direct flight, the fair was seen as an opportunity to expand commercial relations and consolidate the existing interest of the Minas Gerais public in the destination.

Uruguay's tourism product: luxury, gastronomy and authentic experiences

Uruguay arrived in Brazil with a diverse showcase of tourism products. Offerings range from luxury hotels like the Fasano in Punta del Este, to Enjoy, which combines entertainment, events, and wine tourism, to operators offering cultural and gastronomic experiences in Montevideo and Colonia.

"We continue to value attributes that Brazilians greatly appreciate: safety, quality of service, short distances between different destinations, and the human scale that characterizes us. This reinforces the concept of Uruguay as a boutique destination," Pos emphasized.

Furthermore, products such as shopping tourism, culture and regional integration – in partnership with companies such as Buquebus, which connects Buenos Aires and Montevideo – continue to be in the spotlight.

Report and photo: Mary de Aquino.