Tuesday 25 February 2014

Tourism sector to generate US$750 million during 2014 Rio Carnival

This year’s carnival in Rio de Janeiro is expected to generate some 2.2 billion reals (US$950 million) for the city, the Rio state government said Thursday.

According to the Rio Tourism Company (Riotur), US$750 million of the total windfall will be generated by tourism, including hotel and restaurant revenues.

The remainder, said Riotur, will be generated by activities more directly linked to the carnival, such as investment in samba schools, street parades, decorations, and other related activities.

Last year, the festival generated US$665 million in tourism revenue, meaning officials are expecting a 10-percent increase.

Some 920,000 tourists are expected in Rio for this year’s carnival.

The fact that the city will be hosting the final match of the 2014 World Cup games and, two years later, the Summer Olympics, may have helped boost tourism in the city for the carnival season, said Economic Development Secretary Julio Bueno.

A total of 250,000 new jobs will be created thanks to the carnival, which generates employment throughout the year, as the city’s world-renowned samba schools have million-dollar budgets and hire personnel all year long.

Carnival is second only to the Christmas season in terms of generating temporary jobs at Rio’s popular shopping center Saara.

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