Visitbritain, Embratur Sign Agreement to Attract International Events

The main tourism authorities of Britain, Australia and Brazil met in Rio de Janeiro on May 6 to share their knowledge of the Olympics and the international promotion of their respective countries.

Visit Britain CEO Sandie Dawe and the Chairman of Tourism Australia, Rick Allert, participated in the event, which started at 10.00 am at Rio Othon Palace (Avenida Atlantica, 3264 - Copacabana). London, which is preparing for the 2012 Games, and Sydney, which hosted the Olympics in 2000 presented experiences and learning to the rest of the conference to share knowledge with key figures from EMBRATUR, the Brazilian Tourist Board.

During the meeting, the President of EMBRATUR, Jeanine Pires, signed a technical co-operation agreement with VisitBritain and presented the Board’s new program for working together with the aim of boosting the entry of foreign visitors and foreign exchange into their respective countries before, during and after the Olympics in London in 2012, in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Brazil, as the country hosting two major sporting events - the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic and Olympic Games - is creating exceptional conditions to attract more international events, on the basis of the country’s global exposure.

Events tourism is a segment which has presented significant growth in recent years, providing revenue and job creation, and it directly affects the movement of the tourism production chain in Brazil.

The exchange of experience will involve reciprocal support in the international tourist promotion of products, services and tourist destinations of Brazil and Britain and action before, during and after the London Olympic Games in 2012, the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, and also involving the 2014 World Cup.

The next step will be the formation of a Management Committee between the countries for drafting a joint Plan of Work. The Management Committee will also be responsible for inter-institutional co-ordination at international, federal, state and municipal level for bringing the programs and projects to fruition.