The minister pointed out that Brazil currently receives about 6.6 million foreign tourists per year, and the release of casinos could help raise that number to up to 20 million. “Today 93% of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries already have resort-integrated casinos. This is already a reality,” he said.
Asked about assessments that casino installations could facilitate crimes such as money laundering, the minister replied that the issue needs to be hotly debated by Parliament with society, with the participation of the Ministries of Justice and Economy.
"I would like to involve the Federal Police and the IRS to present a project that demystifies many situations that do not fit the truth, such as currency evasion and money laundering," he added.
On the other hand, Provisional Measure 907, signed by President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday (27), was presented at a press conference by Embratur Minister and President Gilson Machado Neto. Among the measures presented is the transformation of Embratur into the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion, moving from being an autarchy to an Autonomous Social Service.
“With the intention of generating more jobs and income for the country, we announced the transformation of Embratur. Our plan is to double the number of foreign tourists in Brazil and make tourism an important player in the recovery of the Brazilian economy,” said the president of Embratur. “After the visa waiver, the reduction of violence in the country and, now, the transformation of Embratur, the Government attests to its commitment to the sector that is one of the most important for foreign currency generation. Now, we need congressional support for MP approval,” he added.
The Minister of Tourism also highlighted the new moment of the Brazilian tourism sector. “Brazil is going through a fundamental moment for the structural change of the liberal economy. We want to open our country to more investments, improve the business environment and, together, make tourism in the country more accessible to all Brazilians,” said Marcelo Álvaro Antônio.
Already the National Secretary of Civil Aviation, Ronei Saggioro, highlighted the goal of the portfolio to reach 200 million domestic and international travel in Brazil. Currently there are 120 million. In addition, the government intends to invest in 200 Brazilian cities with regular air transportation. Today there are 130. “We have made major investments in the air transport sector. Today, 22 airports are granted to the private sector. We want the main national and international players investing in Brazil. We also work to reduce ICMS under aviation kerosene, in conjunction with other ministerial portfolios so that public policies reach the citizen directly,” said the secretary.
Source: GMB
