São Paulo – The month of August should take business tourists to Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco. In the agenda of executives and businessmen, participation in fairs has been programmed: Abad, in the wholesale sector, and Embala Nordeste, in the packaging sector, which should bring together over 40,000 people, including Brazilian visitors and visitors from countries in Latin America.
"Recife has the necessary infrastructure to receive regional, national and international events, no mater what size, with good hotels and reception. And, between the closing of deals and partnerships, the tourist may make use of the opportunity to learn a little more about the city, as we have a diversified gastronomic culture," said the Tourism secretary at the Recife City Hall, Samuel Oliveira, in a press statement.
The first fair is the 29th Annual Exhibition of the Brazilian Association of Wholesalers and Distributors (Abad), which began on Monday (10th) and ends today (13th). This is the third time the event takes place in Recife. The first was in 2005 and the second in 2007. Abad is a great fair for generation of relations that takes place in Curitiba and São Paulo. The event is also known as the main fair in the wholesale and distribution sector in the Americas.
The organizers expect a public of over 30,000 people, including visitors from all over Brazil and from 15 countries in Latin America. The exhibition counts on 250 stands. "It is the largest fair in the sector, capable of crowding hotels and restaurants in the city. Visitors spend an average of three days and many extend their stay, up to a week," said the president of the Pernambuco State Association of Wholesalers and Distributors (Aspa), Douglas Cintra, in the press statement. The Brazilian wholesale sector has a turnover of 130 billion reals a year.
At its 4th edition, Embala Nordeste – the International Packaging and Process Fair – should take place from the 24th to the 27th of August. The event should count on 300 exhibitors and expectations are for 12,000 people to visit the city over the four days. The event is considered the main event in the region and the third in the country and contemplates the entire productive chain of the packaging and industrial process sector. Expectations for revenues are 800 million Brazilian reals (US$ 435 million) a value 15% greater than revenues last year.
According to information supplied by the Recife Convention & Visitors Bureau, in 2008, business and convention tourist stays at hotels, inns and flats rose 12 percentage points. The total number of tourists, including travellers going in their company, was 144,477. Among the visitors, the intention of returning to Recife is 96%. Apart from that, the greater number of tourists coming to fairs is in the South and Southeast, with average stay of five days, generating around 650,146 nights and approximately 240 million reals (US$ 130 million).
*Translated by Mark Ament
