TOURISM IN BRAZIL.

проверка См. Фото-галерею

For a long time now, Brazil’s natural beauty and Carnival rendered it international fame, attracting thousands of tourists all year long. The number of foreigners visiting the country went from an average of 1.5 million per year in the 1990s to more than 4 million visitors per year from the year 2000 on, according to Embratur’s (Brazilian Tourism Institute) Statistical Yearbook for 2003. But there is a very special attraction that you only discover when you come here: the Brazilian people. Much beyond the breathtaking scenery, the way these people live surprises everyone with its simplicity, willingness, hope, hospitality and happiness.

Studies carried out by Embratur indicate that 75% of the tourists who seek Brazil as their vacation destination do so first of all because of the natural beauty. But once they arrive here, they find such hospitality that they soon become enchanted with the mixture of colors, races and cultures of the people as well.

According to surveys, when foreign tourists are questioned about Brazil, they indicate happiness as the main characteristic of our people. Happiness that can be perceived in every moment they stay in the country – whether in our music, the warmth of our northeastern beaches, the lively Rio de Janeiro nightlife or the exuberant Amazon.

From this warm and festive spirit, popular displays such as Carnival, New Year’s Eve celebrations and June Parties arise, all famous for their liveliness and joy. It seems that the people’s desire to show what is good about Brazil transforms this vigor into creativity, flashed about in contagious colors and sounds.

Very few tourist destinations can offer such varied options as Brazil. Its natural beauties, the enormous popular festivities and the countless protected environmental reserves are valuable attractions that astound the foreign tourist when it comes time to choose a vacation destination. Everyone has already heard about Rio de Janeiro, Carnival, the Amazon or the country’s paradisiacal beaches.

Recent surveys carried out by Brazilian Tourism Institute show that the most sought after Brazilian location is Rio de Janeiro. Also called the Marvelous City, this capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro has some breathtaking scenery and is also home to the largest popular festivity in the world: Carnival. The grandiose celebration, which gathers thousand of merrymakers every year to dance and watch the Samba School parades, attracts a significant number of foreign visitors to the grandstands and box seats that line the Marquês de Sapucaí Avenue.

Carnival is also present in the schedules of several other Brazilian cities, attracting the interest of a great many foreigners who visit Brazil. São Paulo follows Rio’s example, and it too puts on some lively Samba School parades; in Pernambuco, the merrymakers in Olinda and Recife, who dance in the streets in costumes, following music groups on floats and maracatus, and carrying the famous gigantic dolls from the region are the ones who stand out; in Salvador, capital of Bahia, the fun is provided by trios elétricos, mobile stages that pull thousands of people along behind them to the sound of the axé music from Bahia until sunrise.

The country’s beautiful beaches and natural wonders also call people’s attention and attract 35% of the tourists, according to surveys carried out by Embratur. With a coastline that extends more than seven thousand kilometers, Brazil has the privilege of being able to offer several leisure options in this segment. Among the most visited beaches in the country, we have the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, along the Rio de Janeiro coast; Joaquina, in the south of the country, famous for holding national and international surf championships; Praia do Forte, along the north coast of Bahia, headquarters for the Tamar Project for the preservation of sea turtles; and the wonderful beaches in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.