Speaking moderately and willing to dialogue, Otávio Leite talked with the Diário do Rio report on the week that marks the national tourism day, May 8. Among the issues of the agenda are the casino in the city in Rio, water and rail transportation in the state, state support to tourism in the capital and in municipalities of the interior, among other issues:
Diário do Rio - Secretary, in your analysis, what are the biggest challenges to make tourism grow again in the city of Rio de Janeiro?
Otávio Leite - The main challenge is to improve Public Safety indices. What is actually being achieved. After all, the figures for the first four months of the Witzel Government, compared to the same period in 2018, have already shown significant progress. In addition, we are working to articulate a program to publicize the Rio de Janeiro product and the potential of the municipalities in the interior at the national and international levels. We also implemented the "Rumo ao Rio" (Towards Rio), which aims to capture events, congresses, fairs and seminars.
What are the proposals to intensify tourism throughout the state of Rio, since it has beautiful regions little visited?
We have approached all the prefectures, helping in the dissemination of tourist products and destinations. The next step is to organize a large Tourism Fair, which will consist of the coming of the cities of the interior to the capital to show their attractions to the consumer market present in Rio, which will be able to program their vacations, already acquiring travel packages.
Does the Secretary believe that the construction of a casino in the center of Rio, in the Port Region as it has been considered, would be good for tourism throughout the State?
Authorization to operate casinos is an issue that is already mature. I am in favor of the initiative. I believe that Brazil must live this experience, even to feel and identify the size of the demand. I would start with at least five casinos in the country and at least one in Rio de Janeiro.
What is your opinion about the visa waiver for American, Japanese and Australian tourists?
I worked alongside the tourist trade for 20 years in order to make the visa requirement more flexible. A courageous, relevant measure that can bring many results. However, for this to happen, it is fundamental that the Americans know the novelty that this tool brings in terms of facilitating their coming to Brazil without bureaucracies. It is necessary to organize a good campaign in the North American market so that more people know this important measure.
Source: GMB / Diário do Rio
