Thanks to an inflow of US$ 478 million last month, the accumulated result of tourist spending this year so far is 19.01% higher than in the same period of 2007 and is nearly equal to the total inflow in all of 2007.
According to figures disclosed this Monday, November 24, by the Central Bank of Brazil (BC), US$ 478 million in expenditures by foreign tourists entered the country's economy in October. The figure, which is 9.78% higher than the US$ 436 million recorded in the same month last year, is the best for a month of October ever since the series started being recorded.
The figures show that the accumulated result from January to October 2008 has reached US$ 4.813 billion. The volume is 19.01% higher than foreign tourist expenditures in the same period of 2007 (US$ 4.044 billion).
To the president at the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), Jeanine Pires, the growth of spending by foreign tourists in Brazil, even in a month in which the other sectors of the economy are already feeling the impact of the global crisis, is proof of the sector's potential within the Brazilian economy.
"Brazil had an increase of 10% in revenues from international tourism, and that leads us to bet on a good final result for 2008," she says.
Should the monthly rate of entry of funds by means of foreign tourist expenditures be maintained this year, the annual revenue from tourism for 2008 may reach US$ 5.7 billion.
In case that figure is confirmed, then the performance in 2008 will be the best ever recorded since the figures started being recorded, in 1969, surpassing the US$ 4.953 billion recorded in 2007 – the best year so far.
Events
Brazil is the only Latin American country among the 10 nations in the world that promote most international events. According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the most important international organization in the sector, in 2007 Brazil was in the eight position in the global ranking, with 209 international events.
In the Americas, Brazil only loses to the United States. Since 2003, when there were 62 events and the country was in the 19th position in the ranking, the country has climbed eleven rungs. After becoming a reference in this sector, the country has been attracting the attention of neighboring markets.
Earlier this year, the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur) was invited to share its experiences for the support of attraction of events and promotion of foreign events during the Expoeventos 2008, which took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina
At the meeting, which brought together the countries in the region, the Business Tourism and Event director at Embratur, Marcelo Pedroso, spoke about the institute's strategies that have contributed to consolidation of Brazil as a leader in the sector in Latin America.
Among the experiences, the director spoke about the importance of making use of the visit of event tourists to offer them alternative routes and services, so that they may spend a few more days in the country.
According to Pedroso, expectations after the event are for the Brazilian Association of Event Companies and the Argentine Association of Organizers and Promoters of Exhibitions and Events to sign an agreement for technical cooperation to promote the exchange of specific information in the sectors they operate.
"The Associations plan to elaborate a joint work plan. This will be an important step for Latin America to be integrated and to occupy more space on the global scenery," stated the director.
Anba
