Almost 100,000 Uruguayans crossed into Argentina for the long weekend to take advantage of the favorable change

Uruguayans who traveled abroad (114,577) to take advantage of the holidays of Tourism Week (Holy Week) were far more than foreigners who entered the country (80,849). The border crossings through which the most Uruguayans left were those that cross into Argentina.

The main starting points were Colonia (21,570), Paysandú (18,070), Salto (15,006) and Fray Bentos (14,326). Of the total output, the vast majority was Uruguayans, reaching the figure of 95,615. Such was the number of people who crossed that the binational land crossings over the Uruguay River were delayed, with lines of up to six kilometers and 10 hours of waiting at the bridge that connects Fray Bentos with Gualeguaychú.

In this regard, the undersecretary of tourism, Remo Monzeglio, warned that the mass outflow of Uruguayans will exceed 100,000 from Wednesday until the end of the week, La Diari a reported. To speed up traffic on the way back, the Uruguayan government even decided to stop requesting an affidavit upon entry into the country, a measure that will be in effect until Monday, April 18.

This means that there is a barrage of eastern visits to the neighboring country. In large part, this is due to the exchange rate that is very favourable to Uruguayans. In fact, “comes out two mangos” (a phrase that is heard a lot in Uruguay) crossing to Argentina to eat, stay in a hotel, attend shows and tour.

Today, the “blue” dollar (unofficial but easily accessible) has a value of 192 pesos for purchase and 195 pesos for sale, while the official dollar stands at 118.66 pesos on average for purchase and 111.58 pesos for sale. The current gap between one and the other would be around 66%.

In Uruguay, the dollar stands at 41.68 Uruguayan pesos. In this sense, one Uruguayan peso is equivalent to 2.76 Argentine pesos, a figure that increases even more if the blue exchange rate is taken into account. That is why it costs almost three times less for Uruguayans to buy in Argentina than in their country.

Already in March of this year, a study by the Economic Observatory of the city of Salto, under the Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU), defined that Argentina is approximately 56.6% cheaper than Uruguay. The number resulted from the comparison between prices of a commodity basket in the Uruguayan city of Salto and the Argentine city of Concordia, both neighbors separated only by the river that shares its name with the “eastern” country.

Uruguayans who went to Argentina are largely attracted by the exchange rate difference, particularly if they access the blue dollar. Although most trips go to Buenos Aires due to food, shopping and entertainment tourism, there are also Uruguayans, especially from the coast, who seek to cross to access cheaper products in border cities of the neighboring country. The most typical example of this is basic basket products and naphtha.

However, the fact that the Uruguayan government lifted the health emergency decree 10 days ago and, in addition, relaxed the requirements for entry into the territory may be another reason that mobilized masses towards the neighboring country. It is the ease of crossing that did not occur two years ago due to the restrictions of the health emergency.

Now, people who are vaccinated and those who can prove to have suffered the disease in the last 90 days no longer need to present a PCR or antigen test upon entry to the territory.

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