Brasília - World Tourism Day will be commemorated for the first time in Brazil on September 27. The theme chosen this year by the World Tourism Organization is "Sports and Tourism: Two Living Forces for Mutual Understanding, Culture, and the Development of Countries."

Brazil is planning a Tourism Week, which will include a series of events. The organizers of the commemoration named President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva the outstanding tourism personality of 2004 for having created the Ministry of Tourism.

The President of the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality Workers, Moacir Tesch, said that the creation of the new Ministry is providing a greater incentive to the sector. "For those of us who work in tourism and hospitality, the creation of the Ministry of Tourism was a great victory. It was one of the sector's long-standing demands. Tourism is developing once again in Brazil, and, with support from the government, we shall respond by creating jobs and generating income and wealth for the country," he affirmed.

The Brazilian Central Bank announced that between January and July, 2004, net revenues in the sector amounted to US$ 345 million. This represents seven times what the sector earned over the same period last year.

During these first seven months, foreign tourists spent US$ 1.84 billion in Brazil, 40.46% more than in 2003. Brazilians also spent more on travel abroad, US$ 1.5 billion, 18.91% more than they did last year. "These figures demonstrate not only the fruits of promoting Brazil internationally as a vacation spot, attracting growing numbers of visitors, but that Brazil's economy is improving, since we also spent more abroad," observes Eduardo Sanovicz, President of the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur).

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Rosamélia de Abreu
Translator: David Silberstein
08/27/2004