Brazil is going to invest US$ 120 million in the international promotion of Brazil in 2007. The announcement was made by the country’s Minister of Tourism, Walfrido dos Mares Guia, in the first day of work at the 3rd World Tourism Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development.
"We expect from US$ 9 billion to US$ 10 billion in foreign funds entering the country, brought by foreign tourists, in 2010," stated the minister, during a seminar on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that took place yesterday, November 30.
Guia forecasted that the sector’s results should "at least double by 2010, thanks to gradual increases in public investment – by federal, state and city governments – in the last four years."
He also credited the result to the possibility of expansion of public-private partnerships, "also including aviation companies so that, with greater promotion of Brazil on the international market, the number of charter flights to the country may be increased."
According to the Minister of Tourism, for this result to come true, investment will have to reach US$ 150 million in 2008 and US$ 200 million in 2009, just in foreign promotion. Average investment in the area has traditionally been between US$ 10 million and US$ 15 million per year.
"In 2006, however, we are going to invest US$ 65 million in commercial promotion and our budget reached R$ 1.5 billion (US$ 692 million), four times greater than in 2003," stated the minister, who emphasized the daring of the sector’s plans this year.