Brazil seeks to promote “Afrotourism” and make tourism a powerful engine of the economy Fitur | the world

Brazil Wanting to restore “Afrotourism” to its African “past and present”, according to Emprador's president Marcelo Freixo, the activity “has no doubt that it will be a means of development to generate employment and income” for the country's future.

In an interview with EFE in Madrid, there Bithoor International Tourism Fair, Head of the public agency responsible for the international development of tourism Brazil Remember that this activity accounts for 8% of the country's GDP, while the oil industry is responsible for 12 percent.

“I have no doubt that oil will not be the basis of the economy of the 21st century, Brazil is the best producer of clean energy and tourism is undoubtedly the way of the future, the means of growth, job creation and income that will guarantee our future. Along with the climate guarantee that the world needs,” he commented.

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And Freakso, less than a year in office, says it is clear that the activity “generates employment and income”, but also helps “a lot” in other issues such as “culture and of course environmental protection”.

Afrotourism, Empreador's “Pandera”

Freixo focuses on African heritage Brazil Currently, according to official data from 2022, 10.6% of the population is considered black and 45.3% “mestizo”, which highlights “Afro Tourism” This is Empreador's “central flag” and the mark they want to leave on the Brazilian field.

“It's not just about fighting racism, more than that, Brazilian tourism has to be proud of the African past, we have an African past and present, there is no history of Brazil without a history with Africa, no. The way to say it is, of course, it's fighting racism, but work for black people. and generates income,” he says.

And, according to him, this “black history” is kept in mind when “tourism is done by black people” and in many places in the country, such as “Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Maranhão, Minas Gerais or Fortaleza”. Seen as “a country that lived with slavery for centuries and defeated it”.

“We talk about culture, food, our tourism Afro tourismAnd there's a huge market that's interested,” he adds.

Brazilian tourism is “back”

Freixo defends President Lula da Silva's return to power.Brazil More is coming Tourists by Lula's government and in the presence of the President as head of state.”

“We've gone through two years of a pandemic, four years of a disastrous government with no respect for international relations and environmental disasters,” he said, referring to the far-right legislature. Jair BolsonaroBefore pointing out that “Lula's return transformed Brazil in the world.”

“Brazil As a place of diversity, it is best represented by the president, it opens its doors to the world and there are numbers, we have already returned to pre-pandemic numbers of tourists; For the first time, in 2023, we surpassed the international tourism revenue of 2014. Football World CupAnother objective, says Freixo, is to strengthen European tourism.

Even so, he notes that tourism should not create problems for the local population, but rather it should be the “solution” to the country's problems: “There will be no tourism for Brazilians and no tourism for foreigners, there will be no Brazil as Brazil. For tourists and those lives the other, we only want. Brazil Great for those who see it, great for those who experience it.