Recife, January 1, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Northeast should receive 16 million tourists this year, mainly from Portugal, Chile, Peru, and Argentina. The announcement was made by the executive secretary of the Integrated Commission for Tourism in the Northeast, Roberto Pereira. He explained that the expansion of the sector is the result of efforts made abroad by the Commission, together with the Ministry of Tourism, Embratur, and Infraero, to publicize the region's potential.

According to the secretary, the Northeast was also benefitted by the increase in the number of weekly international flights, which now total 42. Portuguese tourists, Pereira explained, prefer to spend their holidays in Pernambuco, in consequence of the cultural identity and geographical proximity.

Last year the Northeast received 14.292 million tourists from Brazil and abroad. (DAS)