Uruguay Hotels Brace for Papal Visit: Florida and Paysandú Expect Tourist Influx

Hotels in Uruguay's Florida and Paysandú departments are preparing for a significant surge in tourism as they anticipate the visit of Pope Leo XIV in November. Local establishments are reporting high occupancy rates, with some already fully booked, as thousands of visitors are expected to converge on these cities for the historic event.

Paysandú, scheduled to host the pontiff on Saturday, November 7, is seeing intense interest. The boutique Hotel Casagrande is already full, and the Gran Hotel Paysandú has very limited availability. This central hotel, with 62 rooms, has experienced a sharp increase in inquiries and reservations from Uruguayan, Argentine, and Brazilian tourists over the past week.

Diego Torres, the Tourism Director for Paysandú, estimates the department will welcome between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors. He anticipates a strong turnout from northern Uruguay, as well as from neighboring Brazil and Argentina, particularly from the Entre Ríos province and the town of Colón due to their proximity. To accommodate the expected demand, the local government is collaborating with tourism departments in Río Negro and Salto to expand lodging options. Torres noted that Paysandú's current bed capacity of around 2,000 is likely to be quickly filled.

In Florida, Intendant Carlos Enciso projects a minimum of 30,000 to 35,000 visitors, including international tourists. He believes Florida will attract more visitors from the Brazilian border region, while Paysandú will draw more from the Argentine border. The municipal government is actively assessing local accommodation and restaurant availability and coordinating with neighboring departments on transit and security measures. Hundreds of volunteers are also being recruited to assist with tasks such as cleaning and providing tourist information.