Rio de Janeiro, 27 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro received more tourists from the state of São Paulo (25.55%), on the domestic level, and from the United States (7.79%), in international tourism. This is the result revealed by a survey of the Rio de Janeiro Federation of Commerce (Fecomércio), which interviewed 489 tourists between February 9 and 14. Of this total, 67.28% didn't spend carnival in Rio de Janeiro in 2001 and 71.96% said that they intend to return in 2003.

According to the survey, men were the majority (64.39%) and single people represented 61.05% of the total. The majority of interviewees (64.33%) didn't intend to visit other cities in Brazil and more than half (54.64%) intended to spend more than R$ 501 during the 4 days of carnival. The majority of tourists arrived in Rio de Janeiro on February 8 and planned to stay in the city for an average of 10 days.

As to lodging, 44.99% stayed in hotels or lodges, 39.88% stayed in the homes of friends or relatives, 8.79% own a house or apartment in the city and 6.34% preferred other types of accommodations. (MW)