São Paulo – Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism is planning a mission to the United Arab Emirates in a drive to promote the country as a travel destination, bring investment into the industry and encourage the sharing of experiences and knowledge, the Ministry’s press office told ANBA.
The subject was discussed by mid-last month in a meeting arranged by the Ministry, which saw Brazilian Tourism minister Vinicius Lummertz and UAE ambassadress to Brazil Hafsa Al Ulama get together to build closer ties between the two countries.
According to the Ministry, they discussed a potential memorandum of understanding covering tourism, airline connections, the possibility of minister Vinicius Lummertz visiting the Arab country, and an event designed to draw investment into Brazil.
Details regarding the mission to the UAE are still being worked out, and no date has been set yet, the Ministry said, adding that the UAE are a very promising market for Brazil. Its citizens rank 20th on a World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) list of nationalities that spend the most in international trips. The average Emirati tourist spends USD 1,740 on each trip abroad.
The Ministry also notes that Brazil-UAE flight frequencies have increased recently. Emirates launched a new São Paulo-Dubai route departing from Santiago, Chile. This added five new flights per week. “The Ministry of Tourism and Embratur (the Brazilian Tourist Board) believe this could lead to an increase in UAE tourist numbers to the continent,” the Ministry said. Embratur is the Ministry’s arm tasked with rolling out the national tourism industry policy.
During the meeting with the ambassadress, minister Lummertz also discussed getting investors to consider Brazilian marinas, after the diplomat went over the UAE’s investments in tourism around the world. According to the Ministry, this would be a way of bringing funds from the UAE into Brazil and streamlining nautical tourism in Brazil, a very promising field. The Ministry’s Secretariat for the Structuring of Tourism is carrying out a study on marinas across the country, which is currently at its early stages.
Since early June, a Brazil-UAE visa waiver agreement has been in place for leisure, business and transit travelers, who can spend up to 90 days every 12 months by simply providing a valid passport on arrival. No fees are involved. The waiver does not apply for study or work purposes.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
