Brazilian tourism has been showing great signs of recovery, in spite of the economic losses due to the new coronavirus pandemic. And the recovery of the sector is directly connected to the programs launched by the Federal Government in order to reduce damages, such as the actions “Retaking Tourism” and the Seal of Responsible, Clean and Safe Tourism, which have awakened the interest divulged by the World Tourism Organization of opening their first bureau in the Americas here in Brazil. During the Abav Collab, a virtual fair organized by the Brazilian Travel Agencies Association, the secretary-general of the entity, Zurab Pololikashvili, pointed out that the possible installation of the new bureau has a great potential for boosting Tourism in Brazil and South America.
With the delivery of a letter of intention to the proposal by the UNWTO – the Brazilian Government is waiting for the General Assembly of the Organization to begin negotiations. If approved, the project will, besides boosting Brazilian tourism, benefit the American continent by means of the 4 directions divulged by the WTO: innovation, investment, training and sustainability. In case of approval, the regional bureau in Brazil, which has as candidates Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Brasilia, will act in the following manner:
1. Support the initiative Wakalua (first global center for innovation in tourism) to prepare new generations and “export” creative projects;
2. Provide technical assistance for the identification of investment opportunities;
3. Use the UNWTO regional bureau to promote education and formation of human resources for tourism;
4. Generate research in sustainability in order to transform the natural potential into better tourist destinations.
Future steps, according to the Federal Government
The Brazilian Government hopes that by the end of the year the new bureau will be approved. In October, the Administrative Council of the UNWTO will endorse the proposal and submit it to the 24th meeting of the General Assembly of the UNWTO, in Morocco. At that time, the secretary-general of the UNWTO may begin the negotiation and define important details, such as the localization of the bureau. After the negotiation is finished and the agreement signed, the document will be submitted to the appreciation of the Federal Senate for it to come into force.
