GMB - Tell us a bit about AMITur's history. How did it come about and what is the main purpose of your work with the municipalities of tourist interest?
Jarbas Favoretto - AMITur was created in 2001 with the objective of exactly what happened in 2015. Our bylaws envisaged doing exactly what the law is currently demanding, but the law is
more perfect because it specifies the most important items. We
were state tourism advisers back then, and the secretary said people demanded, complained a lot and we did not know it was impossible to do. So we made an entity, which is AMITur, with the goal of doing what the government does not want and has no capacity to do. Today we have 52 departments, which the ministry does not have, and we have managed to make a player of colleagues, a specialist in each area, all
willingly to collaborate for the economic and social development of municipalities.
The greatest victory of AMITur was the creation of State Law 1261, which created the municipalities of tourist interest. What is the participation of the entity in this process and what activities does in order to promote tourism in these municipalities?
In 2010, we got in touch with Deputy João
Canamez who managed to wield a political flag, since our entity is only technical. With that political support, we began to work to achieve adherence to our idea. Although it was shelved for two years, we managed to disengage the Project when the presidency of the Assembly changed. Mr. Fernando Capez entered, and with
him we improved the draft that we had made and turned into the
Canamez law, law 1261, that creates the figure of the municipality of tourist interest. We seek to eliminate political power and put things in the technical power. What AMITur does is not get to the city and transform it. Our job is to put the train on the line and wait for the driver to hear us. And if he does not hear us, he will derail anywhere.
During the São Paulo Tourism Fair organized by AMITur, at the end of June, the gaming legalization and creation of casinos topic
was discussed. What is your position, and how do you think the future Brazilian casinos should be?
I can not be against. Between one and another position, I can only be in favor. When we talk about legalization of the gaming we are referring to the creation of casinos. Speaking
in a fight for casinos, a lot of cities are encouraged.
Initially there would be two or three, and if I am not mistaken the project contemplates eight or ten, three would be for São Paulo. One must be aware of what is best for the region, for the state. If you have to do a casino somewhere you have to study the surroundings. If you do not do it in a place that has good roads, good everything within a radius of 40 or 50 km, it’s difficult to thin on doing something. "Ahh ... let's build a casino on the banks of the Paraná River because it needs development..” But, what's in it? It's not just the casino, it takes a whole structure.
Despite the qualifications on the construction sites of the casinos, do you believe they can bring improvements to the economy and tourism?
It will cause an improvement. I think 70% of the improvement is from Brazilians who are playing outside and will play here. The other 30% should be of the tourists who will be attracted by the construction of the
casinos resorts.
Another big impact that casinos will bring will be on job creation. Not only to work in the casino itself, but also in resorts and other companies. Do you believe that this scenario will materialize?
Of
course it will generate jobs. It is a situation that forces the hotel to have employees. And what happens: it helps to make napkins, paper, soap, everyone who produces something. No one can say that it hurts.
Source: GMB Exclusive
