MONTEVIDEO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Uruguayan tourism authorities and business owners were cheered on Monday by rebounding hotel occupancy over the Day of the Dead weekend, regarding it as a positive sign prior to the summer travel season in the Southern Hemisphere.
"There was great activity along all the tourist routes and destinations around the country," Uruguayan Deputy Tourism Minister Remo Monzeglio told local media.
"This comforts us because we are trying to facilitate the commercial movement of tourism activity," said the minister.
Last week, the Uruguayan government announced a series of measures to stimulate domestic tourism, such as reducing the value added tax on electronic payments at restaurants and car rentals.
According to official estimates, tourism contributes about 8 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
Uruguay closed its borders in March in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou announced late October that the borders would remain closed over the summer.
Uruguay has reported a total of 3,165 COVID-19 cases with 60 deaths as of Monday. Enditem
