Brazil gov't to announce measures to boost tourism

Brazil is going to announce measures next Tuesday (April 11) to boost tourism in the country, said Tourism Minister Marx Beltrão. The initiatives aim to address three principles of the World Tourism Organization--improving air links, promote travel packages, and improve entry visa policies for visitors.

Minister Beltrão said that the tourist flow has reached 60 million Brazilians, but the industry has potential to accommodate 40 million more national travellers.

During a roundtable discussion at the World Travel Market Latin America (WTM Latin America 2017) in São Paulo on Wednesday (April 5), the minister said the government has taken key measures to drive more foreign visits to Brazil. He instanced airport concessions authorized by the government to allow private companies to manage airports. “With the strengthening of civil aviation and the domestic airport network, many more Brazilians could be travelling around the country,” he said.

He did not give any details as to the steps the government is planning to take to draw more international visitors. “The international inbound tourist flow was up by 5% last year, and we expect it to increase further this year.”

The government is also encouraging advertising to promote Brazil abroad through the Brazilian Tourism Institute (EMBRATUR) and working on a new mobile application to be released soon that will promote the country on all continents.

“The application will show Brazil's high potential for tourism, and demonstrate our country is as prepared to welcome more and more visitors as other countries in the world,” he said.

Translated by Mayra Borges