Rio de Janeiro – The southeastern Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro is going to receive over 40 million reals (US$ 24.8 million) from the National Tourism Development Programme (Prodetur). Most of the funds should be allocated to road paving.
The minister of Tourism, Luiz Barretto, and the governor of Rio, Sérgio Cabral, signed an agreement last Friday (27th), determining that the federal government will be responsible for approximately 20 million reals (US$ 12.4 million), whereas the other 20 million will go to the state government.
New roads should be built between Capelinha and Visconde de Mauá and between Vila de Visconde de Mauá and Maringá, in the mountainous region of the state. The municipalities of Paraty, Cunha, Itatiaia and Resende will also receive part of the funds. Works are scheduled to begin in early August.
Minister Luiz Barretto stated that the construction work is going to prepare the city for the 2014 Football World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, which Rio is a candidate to host.
"This will provide economic dynamism, which is very important, to the tourism industry. The hotel sector is going to grow, as well as the restaurant sector, and that should lead to an expansion of tourism in this region of the state, which is a very important one, as it touches borders with state that supplies the most tourists in Brazil, the state of São Paulo," he said.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
