Uruguay
A news report denounced deterioration at Termas del Arapey and pointed to the management of Albisu and Sanguinetti
Journalists who inspected the thermal complex pointed to maintenance failures and questioned the departmental administration. They also raised suspicions about a possible path toward private concession.
A report aired by La Brújula, on Radio Arapey 1,450 AM, exposed the deteriorating condition of Termas del Arapey, one of the main tourist centers in northern Uruguay. According to Caras y Caretas Uruguay, based on an interview on Caras y Caretas TV, journalists Juan Carlos Gómez and Santiago Vlaeminck described building and operational deficiencies at the site and blamed Mayor Carlos Albisu and Tourism Director Eduardo Sanguinetti.
Gómez said the situation observed is critical for an area whose economy depends heavily on tourism. In his view, the problem is not only a lack of maintenance, but also a direction taken by the current departmental administration that, he argued, favors the deterioration of municipal services instead of strengthening them.
Among the shortcomings mentioned, he pointed to the lack of replacement of basic items, such as faucets and drain covers, as well as maintenance problems in showers and changing rooms. In that line, he warned that the image received by visitors is discouraging.
According to Gómez, that picture of neglect could be creating conditions for a future concession to private operators. On that point, he linked that suspicion to what was recently approved in the Departmental Board regarding the privatization of the Waste Collection area.
For his part, Vlaeminck said the deterioration is not recent and that there are also responsibilities from previous administrations, although he highlighted decisions taken during the current departmental government. Among them, he mentioned that the covered pool at Termas de Arapey was closed in December 2025 during Albisu’s administration.
The journalist also questioned Sanguinetti’s continued tenure at the head of Tourism. According to him, operators from the Guaviyú hot springs resigned last week from the Destino Termas interinstitutional table, made up of public and private actors, because they did not know the official and understood that the forum had ceased to be executive due to his absence.
In addition, Vlaeminck said in an investigation for the portal El Enfoque that Sanguinetti is dedicated to campaigning for Pablo Schiavi’s candidacy, in his dispute with Ignacio Ruglio at Peñarol. According to his account, the director was seen at public activities linked to the club, but not in Salto.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this event.
