The Grand Hotel Punta del Este recently has interviewed Martin Laventure, Director of Tourism of Maldonado state and home of Uruguay’s popular Punta del Este beach resort has become a year-round vacation destination and not just a southern hemisphere summer playground.

GHL: Why is Punta del Este a year-round destination?

ML: Punta del Este has undergone a great transformation in recent years. There was always an option of retirement and having a second residence here, but we have entered a new stage where more and more people who are not yet retired are choosing Punta del Este as a place to live all year.

GHL: What are the pillars that make it a timeless attraction?

ML: The quality of life offered by a place like Punta del Este is undoubtedly our greatest capital. In a convulsed world we offer peace, security, nature, great infrastructure and global services on a human scale.

GHL: What are the market segments or niches currently choosing Punta del Este?

ML: Before the pandemic, we could say that we were a place for retirement or rest. Today we are chosen by entrepreneurs, young people and families who understand that here they find everything they need to live and develop in a harmonious and balanced way.

GHL: What are international tourists, American or European, looking for in Punta del Este? Have you noticed growth in these markets in recent years?

ML: Post-pandemic tourism values experience, closeness, tranquility, and beautiful but safe surroundings. Punta del Este has an intangible heritage that combines all these characteristics. The beauty is both visible to the eyes and something that you can feel.

GHL: What is the Punta del Este Tourism Plan for the next 5 years?

ML: Our strategies are based on triple impact sustainability — economic, social and environmental — and on creating a smart city that responds to the challenges and expectations of today’s world. The participation of private parties in this tourism plan is of great importance. A clear example is the investment that Grand Hotel Lux is making in an impressive events center and rooftop that will surely set a trend in the destination.

GHL: What is the situation today, post-pandemic, of tourism in Uruguay in general and in Punta del Este in particular? Are there any restrictions or health measures still in force?

ML: All Covid measures have been lifted and we are on a privileged path compared to many other destinations. Uruguay was positioned worldwide as one of the countries with the best management of the pandemic. Punta del Este continues to receive visitors who are surprised and fall in love with the place. Welcome everyone!

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