Ciudad del Este experienced a notable surge in commercial activity on Friday, as shoppers took advantage of the combined Independence Day and Mother's Day holiday to make last-minute purchases, according to a report by ABC Color.
Charif Hammoud, president of the Center of Importers and Merchants of Alto Paraná (CICAP), told ABC Color that many Paraguayans were using the holiday to buy gifts for their mothers. He also noted a strong presence of Brazilian tourists, drawn by the favorable dollar exchange rate and competitive prices in the city's commercial district.
While queues at the Friendship Bridge from the Brazilian side were not exceptionally long, the flow of visitors was enough to energize the downtown area. Several shops planned to close after midday to allow employees to spend time with their families.
Hammoud reiterated the need to open the Integration Bridge—connecting Foz do Iguaçu to Presidente Franco—to light vehicles before the July holidays. He warned that the city's infrastructure would not cope with a single bridge during the expected surge in tourism and business events in the Triple Frontier region. “The city won't hold up with just one bridge. For July, a huge tourist movement is expected, with conventions and congresses. Everyone wants to hold events in the Triple Frontier,” he said.
According to Hammoud, hotel occupancy and flights are already projected to be high for that period, and he called for greater support from national authorities to improve connectivity.