JUE 28 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 18:51hs.
Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio

“The return of casinos is an unavoidable topic to be discussed right now in Brazil”

Despite the increase in tourist spending, Brazil ranks as one of the 'lanterns' in the ranking of foreign tourists. The plan is to double the number of visitors by the end of Bolsonaro's term and reach 12 million by 2022. To get the goal, part of the measures that the government believes are beneficial will have to be approved by congressmen and senators, like the return of the casinos. “What we are looking for is the implementation of integrated resorts, not bingo or slot machines,” said Tourism Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio.

The Ministry of Tourism has touted that 2019 was the best year for the sector in Brazil. Despite the increase in tourist spending, Brazil ranks as one of the "lanterns" in the ranking of foreign tourists. In 2018, for example, the country had just over 6 million foreign tourists. Almost nothing compared to powers like France and the United States. But also, behind other Latin American countries, such as Argentina and Mexico, as well as conflicting territories such as Iran (which in the period had about 7 million foreign visitors). Brazil could not, for example, have even more visitors than the Louvre Museum, one of Paris' main attractions.

The plan is to double the number of visitors by the end of Bolsonaro's term. Reach 12 million by 2022 and thus also increase foreign spending on national territory. In the first half of last year, the number of visitors fell by more than 5% compared to 2018. The expectation is that the second half managed to reverse this situation pulled by the victories achieved in the middle of the year. In particular, visa-free travel for tourists from various countries, including the US.

In June, the month of the release, it was possible to record a 43% increase in foreign tourist spending in Brazil compared to the same period of 2018: a US$ 598 million injection into the Brazilian economy. Apart from 2014, which saw the increase of the World Cup, it was the largest growth in tourist spending in the sector in the last 16 years.

To achieve the goal, some of the measures that the government believes are beneficial will have to be approved by congressional deputies and senators. Bolsonaro's “girl of the eyes”, cited whenever possible, is the bay of Angra dos Reis, on the south coast of Rio de Janeiro. The president, who owns a residence there and was fined for fishing irregularly in the region, wants to create a “Brazilian Caribbean” in the resort. Only because it is an area of environmental protection, the exploration of the bay must have the approval of parliamentarians.

“We need to stop the false dichotomy that development is harmful to the environment. I believe we can have projects that develop the regions and protect our environment, and I have been working on that,” said Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio to the BRP.

About the return of casinos, there must be a clash of tourism interests even with Bolsonaro "allies" in the National Congress. Marcelo Álvaro considers that it is “inevitable” that the issue of the return of casinos to Brazil reaches the Congress.

The theme is a “taboo” among evangelicals, a considerable part of the president's electorate. So much so that Silas Camara (Republican-AM), president of the Evangelical Parliamentary Front, the popular "Bench of the Bible", warned that there is no negotiation on the subject.

“We need to make it clear that what we are looking for is the implementation of integrated resorts. This is what really matters to tourism. We are not looking to legalize activities like bingo or slot machines. Just to give you an idea, at least 93% of OECD-linked countries already have so-called integrated resorts, and over 95% of developed countries around the world have also taken this measure. So, it is a reality in the world,” defends the minister.

“However, we know that this is still a topic that needs to be much debated with the Brazilian parliament and with society. It is a discussion that needs to involve the Federal Police, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Economy, through the IRS, to build together the best model for Brazil,” concludes Marcelo Álvaro.

Source: GMB / Gustavo Zucchi - Estadão