The Brazilian government has established a new policy called the National Policy for the Tourist Management of Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites. The decree is part of a series of measures that the ministry is adopting with the aim of improving the business environment for the tourism sector and increasing investment opportunities in Brazil. The proposal aligns with the National Tourism Plan 2018-2022, which defined as one of its strategies the goal of “promoting the value of cultural and natural heritage for tourism.”
The announcement is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministries of Citizenship, Environment, and Regional Development, with the support of the Brazilian Institute of Tourism (Embratur), the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), and the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan).
The objective of the new policy is to help maintain, develop new programs, organize projects, and promote tourism segments related to Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites in Brazil. Brazil has 21 World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO. These sites are divided between Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites.
“This initiative represents a milestone in the appreciation and preservation of our natural and cultural heritage. We are in eighth place among countries with cultural attractions in the world, and we need to better leverage our potential to attract more foreign visitors and also encourage more Brazilians to discover the beauty of our own country,” said the Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio.
Some of these natural and cultural sites include:
• Historic Center of Salvador da Bahia
• Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Reserves of Fernando de Noronha and the Atoll of Rocas
• Iguaçu National Park
• Set of Protected Areas of Central Amazon
• Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between Mountain and Sea
• Pantanal Conservation Area
• Historical City of Ouro Preto