The World Tourism Organization (OMT), a United Nations agency specialized in Tourism, has decided to bring a regional office to Brazil next year, the first in Latin America. The announcement was made by OMT Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili (photo) during the Abav Collab, a virtual fair organized by the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (Abav). Zurab thanked the support and work being carried out by President Jair Bolsonaro and Tourism Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, and emphasized that this measure will boost tourism in South America.
“Brazil is advancing in the development of innovation and qualification, including in the area of rural tourism. I believe that having an office in Brazil will be a very important and interesting project, which will give more attention to the region and provide a boost and assistance to develop tourism,” said Pololikashvili.
During the event, Minister Marcelo Álvaro celebrated OMT’s decision and highlighted the power of resilience in tourism, which, after reaching unprecedented growth figures in 2019 and suffering losses due to the Covid-19 crisis, is once again advancing in Brazil.
“The opening of Abav Collab marked the beginning of a new chapter for our industry, the start of the recovery of our activity. And, for this to happen quickly and safely, the Ministry of Tourism has been developing various measures to ensure the safety of professionals and tourists. We launched the Alliance for the Recovery of Tourism, in order to develop actions in the areas of road tourism, innovation, qualification, and promotion of destinations, so that the sector returns to its growth rhythm,” said the minister.
Source: Ministry of Tourism