Punta Del Este: season finale at Alza

Even those who have worked very well complain when converting dollars to pesos charged to pay for supplies, salaries and all obligations. "I just sold $ 4,200 to have 80 thousand dollars to pay," said one trader who declined to be identified and added immediately: How many passengers should move to $ 4,200 bill? and then say, "And with that, but also pay 5 wages, you must pay fuel, miscellaneous supplies, taxes ...".

There is general agreement, except for the period December 26 to January 10, dominated the Brazilians who come for New Year's Eve, the rest of the season was characterized by the predominance of total tourists "Gasoleros." According to some travel agents might notice a drop in sales of flights to Punta del Este. As data confirming this statement, it is the reflection of a maid in a hotel in Punta del Este 4 stars: "With the tip that I did last summer, I bought all new appliances for my home. This summer, I have to tip 80 pesos (40 dollars), ironed some shirts that some French. "

Expressions coincide indicating that the number has grown by Uruguayans who vacationed in Punta del Este, as in some cases, the prices of renting an apartment there, were similar to those of the classic house that rented for example in Gold Coast Canelones previous years.

Marcelo Chiappino, Chief Operating Officer of Mantra Resort and Casino, 5 star, one of the hotels of a higher grade of the spa, Jorge Wilcke, Manager of the San Marcos Hotel, 4 stars, one of the local traditional and Hector Araujo, Hotel Manager Mabella, 3 stars, also President of the League of Punta del Este have their views on the season concludes.

Marcelo Chiappino: "We had the same number of Argentines and Brazilians"

"Our audience is very special. A single one of our clients, Brazilian businessman, came to his private jet and occupied the Mantra suite (U $ S 7.500 day) and their friends and family, eight of the 12 suites (U $ S 1.200 daily) from 26 December to 10 January.

In the housing category was a very good season, we were excellent occupation until Shrove Tuesday and the next day, we had a corporate event, for that matter, we can not complain.

What was different was the subject of services. Outside the New Year's Eve special dates, guest spending was generally modest.

"We had a similar percentage of Argentine and Brazilian passengers, 35% of each nationality, which amount to 70%, 5% of Americans, 5% of Uruguayans and the remaining 20% ​​distributed among European, Canadian, Mexican and Chilean ".

Chiappino know that coming, is the most difficult time for business but is confident and optimistic to address the low season, with an emphasis on the corporate sector.

Jorge Wilcke: "We had more Brazilians Agentin"

"We place great emphasis on the choice of suppliers and I can assure you that we are satisfied with the results. One of the main suppliers of passengers, preferably bases its operation in Brazil and that is why we have had more passengers than the country's northern the traditional Argentine public. We do not have the final statistics but we can guess that the majority mark percentages around 40% of Brazilians and 30% of Argentines. The most salient feature of the tourist who has come this year is to spend less. "Virtually we can say that one of the strongest performing cost is the air to Punta. I tell them something that looks perfectly why I say: "Here in the corner there is a taxi rank, taxi drivers' complaints are very strong, worked poorly. They said that not happened in isolation, but rather gave repeated so that for example, upon arrival requested 115 pesos on the meter marked, then the passenger told them, I have only a hundred pesos zafar willing to pay full price. It seems that a new form coming from the opposite bank of the river .

The season was good until February 15, there was felt to fall, to pick up now in the holiday of Carnival. "

Wilcke asked specifically if he confirmed that the public safety category had been one of the strengths of the destination and the response was strongly positive: "I do not know what were the causes and I have no specifics but I can say from the moment that Mujica won the presidential election, the issue in Maldonado had a very positive spin to reach the positive reality of today. The security issue is one of the good things that have happened to others, unfortunately negative as little expense, the low value of dollar, which feels considerably by having to pay duties on inputs and weights "finished commenting.

Hector Araujo: "Good season, bad second half of February and a very good carnival."

"The big difference this season has been the pre-season, November and December we were very good, excellent January, fell the second half of February and now we are complete by 15 March.

This is a reality that we live and is one of the aspects that should be present to evaluate in the future. Many people came, lots, saw it was all full, but there are a few entrepreneurs who have not been profitable and that, to a destination where the season is so short in time, can be decisive. "