Tourism authorities from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile said South America should be promoted as a unified cruise destination.
The strategy was a main focus of discussion at the 11th Regional Cruise Meeting, which took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay, earlier this month.
Supported by Uruguay’s Ministry of Tourism, the meeting aimed to discuss opportunities and challenges for the cruise industry in South America.
The country’s Minister of Tourism, Pablo Menoni, said the region should not be treated as a mere sum of individual ports.
“Nobody saves themselves alone here,” he said, highlighting the need to strengthen South America’s joint presence at international industry events.
Brazil’s Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Costa Feliciano, endorsed the strategy, noting that combined itineraries would ease the flow of tourists across multiple countries.
He also highlighted expected capacity growth for the next cruise season in the country, noting that a new cruise line, Corazul Cruceros, is making its debut in Brazil.
The vice president of Uruguay’s National Port Administration (ANP), Constante Mendiondo, emphasized the role of port infrastructure in attracting and retaining cruise ships for the country.
Uruguay’s National Director of Hydrography, Mauro Toledo, pointed to the challenges posed by weather conditions off the coast of Punta del Este and the need to identify opportunities to improve local operations.
The event’s schedule also featured panels dedicated to the role of the private sector and regulatory entities, in addition to a workshop led by authorities from Panama that addressed the use of artificial intelligence in talent development.
Other highlights of the meeting included a panel focusing on sustainable port-city integration, led by port directors from Chile and Argentina.
The operational perspectives of the cruise lines were discussed in a panel featuring Dario Rustico, general manager for the Americas at Costa Cruises, and Marisa Schwarbock, operations manager for Argentina and Latin America at MSC Cruises.
