Around 40 percent of accommodation providers and attractions reported increased visitor numbers in the year to date with a further 30 percent maintaining performance.
Local officials are confident they will contain the Zika virus from spreading, but they are far less confident about the hysteria that surrounds the outbreak.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen, trailblazing transgender beauty Lea T and carnival dancers will show off Brazil's multicolor glory at its best.
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The Rio 2016 Olympic Games got under way on Wednesday with a women's football match played in front of a sparse Olympic Stadium crowd.
The Brazilian football legend's 'brand name' is owned by a US company but he hopes to be given permission take part in the event in the stadium where he scored his 1,000th goal.
Ten more cases were announced Monday, even though Florida authorities have yet to find any mosquitoes actually carrying the virus. Of the 14 people infected, two are women and 12 are men.