Interview with acting Tourism Minister Alberto Alves

A survey carried out by the Ministry of Tourism reveals the profile and satisfaction level of Brazilian and foreign visitors with regards to many aspects of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The domestic study heard 4,150 people from 3 to 16 August at the competition venues and the Olympic Boulevard. The international survey heard 1,262 foreign visitors at Brazilian airports between 6 and 16 August.

Rio Media Center - What is the government's main conclusion from this study?
Alberto Alves: That we are hosting a memorable Olympic Games. We are closing Brazil's cycle of mega-events on a high note. This includes Rio+20, the World Youth Day, the World Cup and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Although these events have different profiles and attract different audiences, they all leave an image legacy.

RMC - Would you like to highlight any particular aspect?
AA: For the Ministry of Tourism, the two most important items are satisfaction levels and intention to return, both among Brazilians and foreigners. According to the survey, 87.7% of foreign tourists plan to visit Brazil again, and 94.2% of Brazilians want to return to Rio de Janeiro. For 98.7% of all Brazilians interviewed, their trip to Rio fully met or even exceeded their expectations. Among foreigners, the rate is 83.1%. Once again, Brazilian hospitality – one of the best appraised items – helped us achieve this results.

RMC - Did the Tourism Ministry expect such positive results?
AA: The federal government as a whole, together with state and municipal governments, worked very hard towards these results. They indicate that we are on the right path, and that tourism is ready to grow and become an important vector for job creation and income generation in Brazil. Currently, our sector accounts for over 3 million jobs, but we can contribute even further.

The survey is available in Portuguese in this link.

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