Rendezvous in Rio? No problem
By Sean Chaffin, Editor/Senior Writer
Last Updated: October 8, 2009; 9:00 pm CT
Ready to travel to Rio? According to officials, you’re one of a growing of many looking to rendezvous in Rio. With the World Cup played in Brazil in 2014 and now the Olympics staged in Rio in 2016, Brazilian officials are gearing up for a continued surge in tourism in the next several years.
The Brazilian Ministry of Tourism released a report detailing recent statistics for tourists to the country. With Rio now on the front burner, tourism officials expect the Olympics to pay big dividends in the years to come, preceding the events.
The report was released last week and prepared by the Brazil Tourism Board. It notes that the Olympics should significantly boost tourism revenue in the next seven years, continuing a trend in increased tourism revenue in the last five years. Current data from Central Bank of Brazil reports a record in tourism revenue in 2008, with foreign tourists spending $5.785 billion, up 133 percent from 2003.
“I congratulate every person and entity involved in this winning project. This is a day to celebrate for all Brazilians, who for the first time will organize one of the most important events on the planet,” Brazilian Minister of Tourism Luiz Barretto said last week. Barretto was a representative in Copenhagen as part of the country’s Olympics delegation. “The Olympic Games will promote Rio as a city abroad, but will also represent our entire country. This will provide immense increases in Brazilian tourism and for our economy in the long run.”
The country will be the first South American country to stage the Games, and was approved by the International Olympic Committee by 85 percent of delegates in the final vote. IOC members cited Rio and Brazil’s strong economy, infrastructure, and planned athletic facilities as positives for hosting the games. Forecasts by the Ministry of Tourism predict extremely strong foreign tourism numbers in 2016, an increase of 10-15 percent greater than the ministry’s projections for 2015.
Are you planning a trip to Rio? What are you memories of the city? Was it a good choice for the Games?
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Joao Manhaes Says:
As a “carioca” (born AND raised in Rio), I am happy that my city was awarded those big events.As happy as I am with the choice, unfortunately I cannot say Rio will be the up to the occasions: the city is held hostage of the drug gangs and is surrounded by more than 700 slums; crime is rampant and the city budget is always in the red, manipulated by corrupt politicians. Still, the city is naturally beauty and may be fun, if one is alert and know where to go. I still have my modest condo in Lagoa, minutes from Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon and I go there once or twice a year. Actually I intend to retire there. I love my city and I am entirely frustrated because the administrations, across the years, allowed that it was taken by crime and slums.
I hope that in spite of all the aforementioned difficulties everything goes well during the games and everybody can be safe and have fun.
Greetings.
Joao Carlos.
Posted on November 7th, 2009 at 5:37 pm