Brazil Fans Flames of U.S. Passport Requirement

Brazilian Tourism Minister Walfredo Mares Guia asked the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to stop demanding American citizens to carry valid passports in order to enter the South American country.

At the same time, Mr. Mares Guia blasted the $100 entry fee that U.S. travelers are required to defray upon arriving in Brazil. “It´s ridiculous that a country so big as this one is coming in for a meager 4.3 million tourists a year when we´ve got the potential to welcome some 20 million sunbathers in twelve months,” he groaned.

The Brazilian started demanding entry visas for American trippers shortly after U.S. authorities had ma de a similar request for nationals from a number of countries, including Brazil.

Opposition parties, for their part, say they´re confident that visa requirements are not hampering travel. “Europeans need no visas to travel to Brazil and their numbers are dwindling. Tourism in this country is hitting other snags, like lack of security and rampant crime,” a ranking opposition leader said.