Residents of the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia must request authorization to enter the country; expert calls decision ‘setback’
The tourism industry has not reacted well to the withdrawal of visa-free travel for US citizens. Hotel and tourist representatives from the Rio de Janeiro they did not approve of the government’s decision to once again require visas from tourists from four countries to enter the country. The announcement was made during the week and people from USA, Canada, Japan and Australia will need a visa to enter Brazilian territory. According to the hotel sector, the criteria adopted by the government to return with the measure were wrong and mistaken. It will now be necessary for the federal government, together with Embratur, to carry out an international promotion in these countries so as not to discourage tourists from visiting Brazil. The president of the Rio hotel association network, Alfredo Lopes, considered the measure a setback. “The return of requirements and visas is absurd. The North American market is one of the most vigorous and main in Brazil. The tourist segment has fought for years for the overthrow of these visas. Now, the government presents us with this setback that ends up influencing the entire tourism industry linked to receiving foreign tourists,” said the executive. According to experts, Brazil, due to its attractiveness and the size of its territory, should attract much more tourists than it actually does. However, measures like this end up discouraging even more the arrival of foreigners to the country.
*With information from reporter Rodrigo Viga
