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In early January 2015, while still analyzing the
results of the World Cup year, the Ministry of Tourism
was also preparing for another great international
event in the form of the 2016 Olympic Games to be
held in Rio de Janeiro.
“We are focused on a strategic equation in
preparation for the Olympic year, which involves
heavy investment in professional training, structural
work, improving competitiveness, encouraging
entrepreneurship and expanding credit for the sector,”
saysMinister of Tourism, Vinícius Lages. He explains that
the goal for his team is to add to Brazil’s attractiveness,
for both Brazilian and international tourists.
“Although the games are limited in scope to Rio
and the other four cities that will host training, or soccer
games, the concept of Olympic year will spread this spirit
throughout the country,” he says. “The idea is that tourists
will take the opportunity to see cultural events in other
places, spreading the positive impact of the Games to
the 26 states and the Federal District, as happened in
the World Cup, when more than 491 municipalities were
visited. This will make 2015 and 2016 two great years for
tourism in Brazil as a whole. This year we have a series of
test events that begin in July,” he explains.
In listing Brazil’s attributes, Lages highlights the
country’s enormous biodiversity and its world-class
levels of hospitality, along with the fact that it is one
of the most multicultural places in the world. He adds
along with professionalism and innovation, these three
characteristics are an extremely powerful competitive
advantage in the travel industry. Accordingly, he
concludes that the role of the Ministry of Tourism is
to organize this supply and make it a dream ticket for
Brazilian and international tourists.
“This is where tourists can find the largest
theme park in Latin America and a strong of beaches
with turquoise or emerald seas. It is here that visitors
can do everything from hot air ballooning to off road
adventures, from diving in cavies to bird watching,
rafting and tracking - all safe in the knowledge that
they are in a country that is a leader in certification
and safety standards for adventure tourism. The
structures are most varied and fit every profile,
budget and dream. We have the largest metropolis
in South America, the quiet and simplicity of rural
tourism, and the comfort and exclusivity of major
hotel chains. I like to say that Brazil’s diversity lies
in experiencing it: there are a thousand ways to be
charmed by our destinations, there is a passion
tailored to every,’ says Lages.
Lages also mentions the advantages for
Brazilians to travel in their own country, rather than
going abroad. He rejects the idea that tourism at home
is expensive. According to him, the difference lies in
planning. “International travel is carefully planned and
there is a special effort made in looking for flights,
accommodation and tickets to attractions, given the
difference in currency and the expectations about a new
culture. We try to plan the tiniest details, with maps,
phone calls, and travel guides, which is absolutely
right and it should apply to any trip we make,” he says.
In his view, the same does not happen when people
travel in Brazil. “We are extremely impulsive, even
though we know buying tickets and reserving hotels
without planning can mean we pay more and might
even make the trip impossible,” he adds.
It should be stressed that packages that include a
rental car can be bought and paid for in installments.
Wonderful Brazil
Brazil’s Minister of Tourism, Vinícius Lages, reveals his goals for 2015, talks about the
benefits for Brazilians of traveling in their own country and explains that people from
abroad who visited Brazil for the World Cup plan to come back
MTur