FEATURE BRAZIL
confirmed and a dedicated website
profiling them is accessible through www.
braziltour.com. Similarly, the Olympic torch will be handed over to Brazil at the closing ceremony in London next summer and the country will begin juggling promotion of the two mega-events. The global exposure will undoubtedly
aid Embratur’s long-term goal to raise awareness of the country’s secondary destinations, something it has previously tackled in advertising campaigns that juxtapose images of iconic Brazilian locations against lesser-known alternatives. Getting consumers to look beyond
Brazil’s ‘big five’ – Rio de Janeiro, the Iguazu Falls, the beaches, the Amazon rainforest and carnival – is something a number of tour operators also mention when quizzed on the state of the industry. The other, more pressing concern, is the
rising price of accommodation and day-to- day costs in Brazil, which are quite high compared to the rest of Latin America. First-time visitors planning a trip around
Rio’s famous carnival might be shocked by accommodation prices, but operators are quick to point out that the annual extravaganza takes place in towns and cities across the country, with Salvador proving to be a popular alternative. Similarly, wildlife enthusiasts might think instinctively of the Amazon rainforest, but the tropical wetlands of the Pantanal, the marine wildlife of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago or the steamy Atlantic rainforest are equally appealing. Rio’s Copacabana and Ipanema must be Brazil's best-known beaches, but the country's 7,000km Atlantic coastline is littered with beaches large and small, urban and isolated. Destinations such as Recife, Olinda and Natal in the northeast are regularly combined with Rio de Janeiro in a 10-day or fortnight-long city and beach itinerary, with some excellent coastal hotel product on offer. One attraction for which there is no alternative, however, is the Iguazu Falls, located on the border with Argentina. Nearly all first-time visitors to Brazil will incorporate a visit to them in their itinerary which, along with Rio de Janeiro – and its iconic Christ Redeemer statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Copacabana beach – and a stay at an Amazonian lodge, comprise a common first-time trip. Brazil’s third-largest city, Salvador, is
capital of Bahia state and is likely to feature in longer itineraries. Its colourful, historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the best example of the country’s Portuguese and African heritage.
BRAZIL Top Selling Tips...
• Brazil is 35 times the size of the UK so don’t try and pack too much in – domestic flights can be as long as five hours across the country from north to south
• Book as far in advance as possible if travelling to Rio de Janeiro for the famous carnival
• Get familiar with the 12 World Cup host cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo
Capital city Brasilia is famed for its urban planning and modern architecture, while the country’s largest metropolis, Sao Paulo, with its impressive museums and rich arts and fashion scene, add further diversity to extended or return trips.
What’s New The Visit Brazil Travel Association (VBRATA) is running a series of roadshows in May aimed at the trade and consumers. Embratur will be in attendance along
with airlines, hotels and tour operators. The dates and locations are London (May 24), Birmingham (25) and Cardiff (26), with the venues still to be confirmed. High-end hotel product is plentiful in
Brazil and continues to grow. Popular options in Rio de Janeiro include the Copacabana Palace, the Santa Teresa Hotel and the Fasano Hotel, while the Rezidor Hotel Group’s fashionable Hotel Missoni brand will open a new hotel – its fifth worldwide – in Ilha de Cajaiba next year, some 40km from Salvador. Rio’s historic Gloria Palace Hotel will
reopen next year after a comprehensive renovation, while the luxury Ponta dos Ganchos hotel, near Florianopolis, completed a refurbishment project late last year. Its 15 older bungalows now feature Brazilian hardwood and natural stone interiors to match 10 newer bungalows, and most have sun decks with sea views. Two significant museums open in the
next few years: the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio has been designed by Santiago Calatrava – best known for master-minding Valencia’s City of Arts & Sciences – while the Pele Museum, in Santos, has been developed by Oscar Niemeyer, responsible for planning much of Brasilia in the 1960s. Audley Travel has an expanded Brazil
offering in its 2011 Latin America brochure and is recommending homestays and apartments in Rio as ways of keeping costs down and immersing visitors in the city. Hayes & Jarvis reports strong sales for
Brazil following the launch of its first stand- alone Latin America brochure last autumn. Bookings are up 37 per cent and are mostly for complex, multi-centre trips.
Top left: The historic Pelourinho district in Salvador; Top right: Eco-outings at the Tivoli Praia do Forte resort; Above: The distinctive skyline of Rio de Janeiro
www.sellinglonghaul.com • April 2011 43
Most first- time visitors to Brazil will incorporate a trip to the Iguazu Falls in their itinerary
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©ORIENT EXPRESS
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