8. Brazil's Hotels

In recent years, the hotel industry in Brazil has taken great strides. Major hotel chains are investing confidently in a market that also benefits from local initiatives. There is an increase in the number of both upscale hotels and quality budget accommodations.

9. Tourism is a Priority to Brazil

Brazil has a Ministry of Tourism and state and city administrations are investing as seriously in the area as the private sector. That translates into better roads, more jobs, an improvement of community life, and many other benefits that are turning Brazil into a more desirable destination than ever.

10. Brazil is a Gateway to South America

Brazil has awesome neighbors. Make it your hub to some of the greatest attractions in South America, such as:

• The Andes

• Patagonia

• Macchu Pichu

• Buenos Aires

Tourism development planning, sustainability

Companies in the tourism industry have a responsibility to ensure that their business

practice does not add to the deterioration of the working and living conditions in the

tourism destination and around the world. Three overarching principles:

1. Ecological sustainability: development that is compatible with the maintenance

of essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and biological resources

2. Social and cultural sustainability: development that increases people’s control

over their lives, that is compatible with the culture and values of people affected

by it, and that maintains and strengthens community identity

3. Economic sustainability: development that is economically efficient, with

managed resources that can support future generations.

In the tourism industry, the value chain of a product or service to end-users is often not

controlled by solely one party or individual and different elements are often operated by

multiple stakeholders. This leads to difficulties in controlling elements of corporate social responsibility.

Despite international aims towards sustainability as mentioned above, tourism industry workers in many countries continue to suffer low and unpredictable pay, long hours and casual employment. Natural areas are converted for the development of tourism infrastructure; consumption of water and production of waste remain problems.

Ecological sustainability

As nature and landscape are often ingredients of a tourism experience, many tourism

developments coincide with areas of high biodiversity, but large numbers of travellers can

damage fragile ecosystems. Most damage to ecosystems happens through land

conversion: natural areas are converted into areas with tourism infrastructure (resorts,

transport facilities, leisure centres). Often, there is a lack of adequate planning of new

developments, or considerations on biodiversity are not part of the planning process.

Other problems related to tourism development are use of water and resources for

energy, production of waste, litter and waste water, and disturbance of species by the

presence of tourists.

Especially in developing countries, tourist centres often overuse scarce resources such as water and energy, and there is a lack of suitable waste management systems. Showers,swimming pools and watering of lawns can destroy water reserves, and often tourists ignore the fact that the local populations lack water for their personal use and for irrigation.

Tourist complexes also generate literally tons of garbage (a single cruise ship produces 70,000 tons of trash every year) that must be treated and disposed of by local, often inadequate infrastructure.

Serious environmental degradation is also incurred as a result of tourism-related air travel, which causes air pollution, in particular through greenhouse gas emissions. Per

passenger mile travelled, CO2 emissions of aircraft are five times higher than those of cars and twenty times higher than those of rail traffic.

The tourism industry exhibits a considerable and growing demand for long haul trips requiring air travel that has an unequivocally negative ecological effect.

According to the UN Environmental Programme, 60 percent of all international air traffic is for tourism.

In Brazil, over 70 percent of incoming tourists arrived by air in 2012

Social and cultural sustainability

Environmental aspects have been prioritised in certification programmes and other

corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives since the early 1980s. Only recently has some attention been given to social issues related to CSR in the tourism industry. Particularly in the area of human and labour rights, many issues can be are of relevance.

Child prostitution, child pornography and the sale of children

The sex industry is currently experiencing a boom worldwide, accompanied by a rise in

child prostitution, which is growing due to increased tourism. Tourism is certainly not the

cause of child sex tourism, but it is a channel that provides offenders with a way to gain

access to children. As a result, the tourism industry is well-placed to play a vital role in

protecting children.

After Thailand, Brazil has the second-largest number of underage prostitutes in the world,

about 500,000. According to research undertaken by the Brazilian government in 2012,

almost one in five of the country’s large cities harbours well-organised underage sex rings.

Nearly a third of all child prostitution crimes take place in the northeast of Brazil, a region

with many international tourist destinations. Three state capitals in the northeast -

Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador - have set up special courts to deal with child prostitution.

Prostitution is legal in Brazil at eighteen, but there is such a high demand for prostitutes

and such poverty among the local population that many minors are drawn into the

industry. Income from child prostitution benefits people engaged in an entire chain of

activities (managers of bars and cabarets, middlemen, guides, hotel staff, taxi drivers,

etc.), making it that much harder to eradicate.

Child labour

The ILO estimates that ten to fifteen percent of the people working in the tourism industry

worldwide are children. Children work shining shoes, selling flowers, carrying luggage,

working in kitchens and as small vendors in the tourism industry, in addition to the millions

more minors labouring in the informal sector.

Economic sustainability

At the World Summit on Sustainable Tourism in Johannesburg, the World

Tourism Organisation (WTO) launched a report called Tourism and Poverty Alleviation.

The report argued that tourism is one of the few development opportunities for the poor and constituted a call for action.

The tourism industry is easily accessible for entrepreneurs, as in many cases little

investment and infrastructure is needed to start a tourism activity. It offers many labour intensive and small-scale opportunities. As a result, many developing organisations see

tourism as an instrument towards poverty alleviation. However, experience also shows

that tourism tends to increase income inequality. Organised tourism can displace local

restaurants, accommodation facilities, and transportation and service providers in favour

of organized operators that are often subsidiaries of a vertically-integrated multinational

tourism company. Furthermore, the tourism market is not only highly seasonal, but can

also be unreliable in the long term. The tourism market shifts easily according to changing

political situations and external factors such as the SARS disease in Asia, for example.

Some years ago, the term “pro-poor tourism” was coined. Pro-poor tourism is defined as

tourism which generates net benefits for the poor – it is neither a product nor a sector. Any

form of tourism can be pro-poor. Pro-poor tourism aims to unlock economic and other

livelihood opportunities for the poor. What actually constitutes poverty will vary from

destination to destination. The WTO has identified seven different ways in which spending

associated with tourism can reach the poor:

1. Employment of the poor in tourism enterprises;

2. Supply of goods and services to tourism enterprises by the poor or by enterprises

employing the poor;

3. Direct sales of goods and services to visitors by the poor (informal economy);

4. Establishment and running of tourism enterprises by the poor (SMEs or

community-based enterprises);

5. Taxes or levies on tourism revenues or profits with proceeds benefiting the poor;

6. Voluntary giving of resources (money, goods, time) by tourists and enterprises in

ways which benefits the poor;

7. Investment in infrastructure which provides livelihood benefits to the poor.

According to Harold Goodwin, it is clear that the impacts of tourism on the poor are

diverse and that both positive and negative impacts need to be considered.

Tourism Marketing activities to promote this country

The world meets in Brazil. Come celebrate life”. This is the theme of the new international campaign for the promotion of Brazil abroad launched by President Dilma Rousseff at the London Film Museum.

The campaign has the aim of promoting the country with focus on the big sporting events Brazil will host in the next four years: the 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Promoted by the Ministry of Tourism, through the Brazilian Tourism Agency (EMBRATUR), the strategy is to show Brazil as a country with unique culture that offers several different experiences to all visitors.

The advertising campaign will be rolled out in over 100 countries and will probably reach 1.2 billion people. There will be adverts on TV, magazines, social networks, websites, as well as billboards, electronic display boards, bus stops, among others, in some countries. The campaign begins in London this July. In other countries, the advertising will start in August.

According to President Dilma Rousseff, this is the most opportune moment to invite the world to visit Brazil.  “We have shown that we too celebrate this Olympics, which are without a doubt, the best held so far. We always have to make the latest Olympics the best one of all times. I am sure that here in London, we shall experience this show. I am also certain that when it is Rio de Janeiro’s turn, we will do our part. All of you will be received well and we really hope that you come to meet us in Rio de Janeiro. Because one of life's great celebrations is sport", said the President.

In addition to Dilma Rousseff, the Ministers of Sport Aldo Rebelo; External Relations Antônio Patriota; Education Aloizio Mercadante; Tourism Gastão Vieira; the Secretary of Communication Helena Chagas; EMBRATUR President Flávio Dino; and the President of the House of Representatives Marco Maia, were at the launch.

The goal of the new campaign developed by EMBRATUR is to show a country that offers unique experiences.  “We are the sum of all rhythms that start getting you and when you notice it you are already dancing with us. We are the flavour and colours of our food. We are the art of the museums and the talent of our artists. Brazil is not easy to describe, but everyone can feel it. Feeling it is what really matters”, stated EMBRATUR President Flávio Dino. “We have a date with Brazil. The country's doors are open to tourists from all over the world", added the Minister of Tourism Gastão Vieira.

Dino added that the already known Brazilian attributes, diversity, modernity and interactivity are still part of the advertising campaign. But they have been reinforced with Brazil’s best traits, as assessed by foreign tourists in a survey. “The opinion surveys that we conduct every year with foreign tourists show that our great differential is our friendliness and the interaction of our people, and the film tries to explore that”, explained the President of EMBRATUR.

Tourism impacts, benefits and costs for this destination

Brazil is enjoying record levels of tourism, with some 5.4 million foreign tourists swelling the country’s economy by nearly 7 billion dollars last year. From the Amazon basin to Rio de Janeiro, tourism is fast becoming a lucrative sector and the aim is to spread the benefits to everyone.

Brazil has always had a certain charm and excitement about it, from its beautiful miles of golden beaches to its spectacular carnival. Rio de Janeiro is the number one destination and it’s reaping the benefits.

Tourism companies enjoy rise in earnings an average of 20% a year since they started in 2004. Despite the economic crisis, tourist spending in Brazil and Rio de Janeiro is higher than ever at an average of 92 US dollars a day. But the image of a budget destination is long gone.

Coming future events like World Cup 2014 and 31^st Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will greatly benefit Brazilian Tourism.

Some experts say that Brazil will enjoy:

• 15 percent increase in foreign tourist

• Investments and works generated in Olympic host cities have boosted tourism, especially in regards to business travelers.

• Huge infrastructure development with direct impact to tourism and a tremendous advertisement campaign that will change the image of Brazil for at least four years

Cost for visiting Brazil

Cost of the hotel per one day:

• 5* hotel: 55000 KZT ($361)

• 4* hotel: 35000 KZT ($230)

• 3* hotel: 24000 KZT ($157)

Tour for 12 days/11 nights with Russian speaking guide. 5 nights in Rio de Janeiro on carnival, 6 nights in Buzious on a tropical coast:

• In a 5* Hotel $5066

• In a 4* Hotel $3136

• In a 3* Hotel $2855

Renting a car will cost you from 34 euro to 104 euro.

Tourism prospects in the country of your choice. Recommendations and Conclusions

Prospects:

The domestic tourist market in Brazil grew 23.13% between 2009 and 20010,due to big and growing Brazilian consumer market, Brazil is currently one of the best places in the world to invest in real estate. Very few markets can offer such a strong and growing domestic market as Brazil. The Brazilian government does not ignore however the gold mine that foreign tourists represent, and thus it is ramping up its efforts to attract these high spenders from abroad. In 2012 Brazil welcomed 5.1 million visitors, which would translate into $5.9 billion in revenues. All this tourism creates many business opportunities, in the leisure and hotel sectors and also offers opportunities for attracting foreign investment in real estate helped by the positive investment profile.

Eco-tourism offers the prospect of capitalizing on the comparative advantage of many developing nations in terms of outstanding scenery, relatively unspoiled natural environments and unique flora and fauna. Thus, for tourism in Brazil, ecotourism will play an increasingly larger role and could soon be the main component of this industry.

Another great impetus for development is Brazil's forthcoming hosting of both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. Fortunately, Brazil’s economy is in a strong position to support the required infrastructure development. Brazil's economy remains in strong health. Its growth rate in 2010 - estimated at 7.5% - is the highest for two decades. The expected average annual growth of 4.9% between 2011 and 2015 will maintain Brazil’s place as one of the world's most compelling growth stories.

Steady increase in tourist arrivals is forecast: air to reach almost 7 mn, road : 2.56 mn, and by sea to grow to 283,000 visitors by 2015. The largest numbers of these inbound visitors to Brazil are from other countries in Latin America, especially Argentina. European visitor numbers are expected to supply more than 3 .5 mn in 2014 – with the largest number of European tourists coming from Portugal, Italy, Germany, France and Spain.

Reccomendations

Brazil offers vast inland savannah, marshlands teeming with exotic wildlife, colonial gold-boom towns, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and much more. Brazilians are world-famous for their warmth, generosity and open minded, relaxed natures. A vibrant musical culture has consistently been the toast of New York and London since Bossa-nova took the world by storm in the 1950s - right up until today.

So, When to Travel ?

High season is one week before Christmas until Carnaval (February or early March.) This is the most popular time to travel. The festivals during parts of this time period are unforgettable while all the towns and resorts are bursting with vacation travelers. The downside is that hotels are more expensive and availability is quite limitted. Visiting Brazil in September through November promises summer weather and a savings on high-season rates. All the other months are usually pleasant but carry a somewhat greater possibility of rain.

Vaccinations

Some vacinations may be necessary for travelers visiting the more rustic areas of Brazil for extended periods of time. Vaccination against yellow fever and taking anti-malaria medication may be necessary if you are traveling to central-western (Mato Grosso) or northern (Amazon) regions. If you're arriving from Peru, Colombia or Bolivia, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required before you enter Brazil. Some countries, such as Australia and South Africa, will require evidence of yellow fever vaccination before allowing you enter the country if you have been in any part of Brazil within the previous week.

Crime and Personal Security

Crime is rife in all major cities with Sao Paulo, Rio and Recife topping the list in street crime and violent assault. Favelas fringe all major metropolitan centres and are best avoided by tourists. Crime is less of a problem in smaller towns and seaside resorts though you must always remain vigilant of your personal belongings and stay aware of your surroundings.

Religious: There is a strong Catholic tradition

People:

55% White

38% Mixed

6% Black

1% Indian and other minorities

Religion:

88% Roman Catholic

2% Afro-American Spiritualist

2% Spiritist

1% Atheist

Food specialties: Arroz (white rice), feijão (black beans) and farofa (cassava flour) : the Brazilian staple diet. In addition there are three other components: carne (beef), peixe (fish) and galinha (chicken).The feijoada, the national dish, is a stew of pork and black beans.

In the north there is strong Indian influence, with many fruits and tubers.

On the north-east coast, the cuisine has a more African flavour: chillis, spices and the delicious palm oil.

Music plays an important part in Brazilian identity. Styles like choro, samba and bossa nova are considered genuinely Brazilian. Caipira music is also in the roots of sertanejo, the national equivalent to country music.

A mixture of martial arts, dance, music and game, capoeira was created by African slaves brought to Brazil, mainly from Portuguese Angola. Distinguished by vivacious complicated movements and accompanying music, it can be seen and practiced in many Brazilian cities.

Most Brazilians are honest and genuinely friendly, but many are used to small acts of corruption in their everyday lives, the so-called jeitinho brasileiro. If you obviously look like a tourist, you are a potential target; for instance, a vendor may try to sell goods at higher prices, or a taxi driver may choose the longest route to the destination.

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, spoken by the entire population (except for a few, very remotely located tribes). Indeed, Brazil has had immigrants from all parts of the world for centuries, whose descendants now speak Portuguese as their mother tongue.

English is not widely spoken except in some touristy areas. Don't expect bus or taxi drivers to understand English.

Carnival

The biggest party in the world takes places across the country every year, lasting almost a week in February or early March. It is celebrated in a wide variety of ways, from the giants boneco masks of Olinda and the trios elétricos of Salvador to the massive samba parades of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. For a relatively more subdued atmosphere, check out the university-style street party of Ouro Preto or the sporty beach party at Ilha do Mel. Don't forget to make your reservations well in advance!

Beaches

Almost the entire coast is lined with fabulous beaches, and the beach lifestyle is a big part of Brazilian culture. Nowhere is that more true than in Rio de Janeiro, with its laidback, flip-flop-footed lifestyle and famous beaches like Ipanema and Copacabana. Beaches in other areas of the country may not have the instant name recognition but are no less amazing. The Northeast has jewels like Jericoacoara, Praia do Futuro, Boa Vista, Porto de Galinhas, and Morro de São Paulo which bring in throngs of travellers, particularly Europeans. Landlocked mineiros go mingle with the rich and famous at Guarapari or dance forró in the sand at Itaunas, while paulistas head for Caraguá or Ubatuba. In the South, weekend revelers flock to Ilha do Mel or Balneário Camboriú, while the 42 beaches of Santa Catarina Island draw in thousands of Argentianian tourists every year. Hundreds more beaches lie ready to be explored as well.

In conclusion, Brazil is one of the coolest countries to visit rich with history, life, beauty, and diversity. Analysts have termed Brazil to be the most recent sleeping giant,because people in Brazil are friendly and the cities have a modern and traditional style of architecture. Brazil's larger cities have a mixture of both very modern skyscrapers and slums living right by each other. The cities listed in this article serve as great tourist attractions and surely will not disappoint any experienced traveler. So come and see all the wonders and hurry up to enjoy all the charms of this magnificent country!