Cristina Ìndio do Brasi
Reporter - Agência Brsil

Rio - Professional workers in the area of tourism in Rio de Janeiro will be trained to take better care of visitors, starting this month. Tthe training program is part of an US$ 803 thousand (R$ 2 million, 170 thousand) agreement which will be singed this week between the Ministry of Tourism and the Rio de Janeiro municipal secretariat of tourism.

The secretary of Tourism Development Programs of the Ministry, Maria Luisa Campos, says that the effort will be of help to taxi-drivers, store owners, and proprietors of agencies and hotels. According to Campos, one of the biggest complaints during the last Carnival Season had to do with bad taxi service.

Campos said that the training program will also be helpful for the 2007 Pan-American Games. The Ministry wants to do a good job to make the event mesh with the city's tourist attractions. "Rio de Janeiro is already a big drawing point. It continues to be the Brazilian city most visited by foreign tourists. Moreover, in every survey foreign tourists say they want to come back," she affirms.

Translation: David Silberstein