Uruguay’s National Director of Tourism, Benjamin Liberoff, presented the country as a tourist destination for the first time in Madrid before the upcoming launch of an airlink between Madrid and Montevideo with the Spanish company Air Europa on June 3.
He highlighted the importance of tourism for Uruguay, since it is the country’s main economic activity, contributing 7% to the GDP and 8% of its labor market. Liberoff also pointed out the importance given in recent years to training in this industry.
Uruguay receives 170,000 European visitors every year, of whom 48,000 hold a Spanish passport. Tourists are offered sun and beaches, resorts, culture and events within a short distance, in the three major cities: Montevideo, Punta del Este and Colonia del Sacramento.
In his presentation, he described Uruguay as a stop for multi-destination tourism since «35% of Europeans go to Argentina first and then visit Uruguay.» He also noted that «from Montevideo, it is easy to reach other American cities».
He added that cruise tourism has boomed in recent years, and that cruise passengers «discover» Uruguay and then become tourists or investors in the country.
He commented on industries like construction, where many project have not begun due to a lack of labor, and said that by 2015, 40% of the country’s energy will be alternative and «there are companies that are competing to build the wind generators.»
