The Brazilian tourism industry may generate 210 to 250 thousand new jobs this year. Until 2007, the expectation is to have created 1.2 million jobs in this sector.
Tourism is among the federal government’s top ten priorities to stimulate the country’s social-economic development.
“It is a business that generates jobs, distributes income, and is also a way to approximate different cultures and create conditions for peace,” affirmed the Minister of Tourism, Walfrido dos Mares Guia.
Guia made his comments while participating in the opening ceremony of the event “Tourism – Brazil’s Routes” (Turismo – Roteiros do Brazil), this Wednesday, June 1st, in São Paulo.
Last year, the industry was responsible for 210 thousand new jobs, additionally, 4.7 million foreign tourists visited the country, and 36.5 million domestic trips were registered.
For 2005, 5.5 million tourists, and 45 million domestic trips are expected, a US$ 4 million income into the country from tourism-related activities – more than double the best result registered in Brazil, which was in 2000 – US$ 1.88 billion, according to Brazilian Central Bank.
“Tourism is the third item in the Brazilian export agenda, behind soy and iron ore.”
The Minister mentioned, however, that Brazil is still in the 30th place of the list of countries most visited by tourists, and for this reason, the Federal Government has focused on the promotion of Brazil worldwide, participating in 40 international fairs, 72 workshops, and keeping 9 international offices (7 in Europe, 1 in the US, and 1 in Japan).
Agência Brasil