Brazil is expecting to receive 600,000 foreign tourists for the 2014 World Cup, an event that should also move at least three million Brazilians. “Expectations are for the event to be at least 30 times greater than the Confederations Cup,” said Flavio Dino, Embratur president.
The revenue targets for the main soccer event on the planet are much greater than the 311.5 million reais (US$ 155 million) raised at the Confederations Cup, the tournament that serves as a test for the country one year prior to the World Cup.
According to Dino, Brazil should have revenues of R$ 25 billion (US$ 12.5 billion) with the competition in 2014, with R$ 7 billion (US$ 3.5 billion) coming from foreigners.
Embratur figures show that of all revenues obtained with the Confederations Cup, R$ 69 million (US$ 35 million) came from international tourists. According to Dino, excluding expenses with airline tickets, not accounted for in this value, the greatest expenses of foreigners who came to the event in Brazil were with hotel stays. On average, international tourists spent seven days in the country.
According to Dino, the Confederations Cup is more a local event. “Having achieved over 100,000 Brazilians traveling and over 20,000 foreigners coming to the country was very good. We could test whether services to tourists were as expected and could evaluate what should change for next year,” said Dino, regarding the numbers of the tournament promoted in June.
The executive stated that among the main problems pointed out by foreign tourists is urban mobility and questions related to language. “In Brazil, there are few bus stops showing itineraries, so it is hard for Brazilians and foreigners,” he explained. The lack of bilingual signs and difficulties for tourist communication are also among the complaints about the event.
According to Dino, these questions limit the activities of foreigners in Brazil. “Our objective is for people, after the matches, to be able to visit attractions, go to a restaurant, visit a neighboring city, expand their knowledge of Brazil,” he said. Among the positive points presented by the foreigners are the good quality of the hospitality structure and Brazilian gastronomy.
To the president at Embratur, the World Cup should also serve to attract tourists from more distant countries, not among the main visitors to Brazil.
“The Cup makes it possible for other exchange to take place. The Middle East may come closer to Brazil due to the Cup. The presence of national teams from Asia and Africa grant expectations of greater tourist flow from the region,” he concluded.
