Analysis of Brazil as a Tourism Destination - Term Paper Example

Note: Just send a message if you need anything. Thanks Tourism in Brazil Figure 1- Political Map of Brazil (www.infoplease.com) Introduction Brazil is one of the fascinating countries on earth. Although considered as a long-haul destination for tourist, Brazil still attracts millions of visitors every year. These include tourist from other prosperous countries in South America, United States, and Europe. Tourism in Brazil improved only in the late 1990s when political stability is achieved and government tuned their focus on the potential of tourism as a source of income. Brazil offers a wide variety of cultural and environmental attractions such as the Rio Carnival, the Amazon Rain Forest, and a number of UNESCO Heritage Sites. Both Brazilian government and the tourist industry contributed to the growth of Brazil’s tourism through legislations, policy, new and improved tourist facilities, transport, and effective domestic and international marketing. Tourism provides Brazilians with opportunities as well as reasons to protect their culture and environment against the impact of exploration, deforestation, and other unsustainable practices. This project is an analysis of Brazil as a tourism destination and investigation of the effects of tourism on Brazilian culture and natural environment. It provides an analysis of Brazil’s ‘pull’ factors and “push factors” that made tourist take Brazil as their destination. Moreover, it also examine the contribution of Brazil’s government and tourist industry in promoting Brazil’s tourist attractions and preservation of its natural environment and culture. Brazil’s natural environment The Federative Republic of Brazil is four times the size of Mexico as it covers 3,286, 426 squares miles. Brazil borders every country in South America except Ecuador and Chile. San Paulo is Brazil’s largest city followed by Rio de Janeiro. It has five climates, equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical, and subtropical. Brazil’s North is the land of the Amazon basin Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country in terms of area and population. Its area covers almost 47% of the South American continent and with a population that is almost haft of the total South American countries combined. It has the largest rainforest and the mightiest river system, contain one of the world’s biggest reserves of industrial and precious metal, and the longest continuous coastline stretching to some 7,400km (Dicks, 2005 p.9). The Amazon rainforest has more specifies of plants and animals than any ecosystem in the world (Frommer.com, 2012, p.2). Exploring the Amazon is a dream from many travellers as it offers approximately four million square miles of rainforest, wildlife, expedition into the deep jungle, and boat ride along the Amazon River, which is the longest in the world (Waggoner, 2011, p.6). Aside from astounding plant and animal life, the Amazon rainforest also contains historic cities, beautiful river beaches, and one of the most important archaeological sites in South America. Starting from the culturally rich city of Belem at the mouth of the Amazon River, travellers can explore the forest-covered island of Ilha de Marajo or fish in the village of Algodoal in the northeast. Visitors can also travel by boat, enjoy the scenery in a hammock, and stop in Monte Alegre to see the ancient rock paintings. Upstream, the virgin rain forest in Floresta Nacional do Tapajos and Alter do Chao offers a charming lagoon with white-sand beaches. Upon reaching Amazonian largest city, Manaus, visitors can arrange for jungle trips, trek up Mt. Roraima, or see an incredible variety of wildlife at the Mamiraua Reserve (Louis & Chandler, 2010, p.33). They can also go to Pantanal, Atlantic Ridge forest, or visit the breathtaking waterfalls in Foz do Iguacu. In Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Fernando de Noronha and Florianopolis, travellers can enjoy almost endless sunny days along the magnificent coastline with emerald blue waters and sandy beaches (Tourist Office of the Embassy of Brazil in London, 2011, p.3). Major features of Brazilian society While Spain and Portugal were extending their empires into the Americas, South America was divided in 1494 through the Treaty of Tordessillas. However, Portugal explored more land than the treaty specified and discovered the coast of Rio de Janeiro. By the end of 16th century, almost of half of South America became Portuguese colony and Brazil was ruled by a Portuguese governor general. In 1889, Brazil cut off its political links with Portugal and became a republic. Republica Federativa do Brazil or Federal Republic of Brazil is the official name of Brazil. Its capital is Brasilia (succeeded Rio de Janeiro in 1960). The country is divided into 26 states and a federal district (Brasilia). Brazil’s northeast is the first area of colonial settlement and therefore has the most colourful mix of cultures (Dicks, 2005, p.9). Brazil’s population is a mixture of many cultures and 90% of Brazilians live in along the Atlantic coast, the area that was colonised by Portuguese and other Europeans from the 16th century. Consequently, most Brazilians are of Portuguese origin while the minority are Italians, Spanish, Germans, Poles, Japanese, Koreans, and Arabs. Only one percent of Brazilians are pure American Indians with the mamelocos, descendants of white Europeans and Amerindians, form the majority. Other groups such as the cafuso are descendants of African and Amerindians while the mulattos are those of black and white descent (Dicks, 200, p.10). Although a little different in accent and intonation from that spoken in Europe, Portuguese is Brazil’s national language. However, other languages and dialects are also spoken such as the Veneto (Italian) of the Southern Region, Hengatu, a Tupi dialect spoken in some parts of the Amazon, and the Americana (English) of Sao Paulo. About 74% of Brazilians are Catholic while the rest are Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Buddhist, Animist (indigenous religion), Hindu, Muslim, and others (Waggoner, 2011, p.10). Jeintinho brasileiro or “doing things the Brazilian way” is one of the most remarkable national virtues of flexible and natural Brazilian people. Another is their incredible national pride and love for Brazil. Brazilians accept anyone regardless of their race, religion, and sexual orientation. They are generous, friendly, and interested in what other people think. However, they can be very sentimental and appreciate small gestures of friendship (Wagonner, 2011 p.11). Brazil has a rich musical heritage that is deeply ingrained in their life. The Carnival in Brazil for instance features a multitude of rhythms such as the famous samba in Rio, axe and afoxe in Salvador, frevo and maracatu in Recife. Aside from street dancing and other lively celebrations, Brazilians loves sports and are among the best footballers in the world. In fact, Brazil is the only country to win five World Cups (Louis & Chandler, 2010, p.160). Far to the south of the Yanomami in the watershed of the Xingu River lives the famous Kayapo Indians of central Brazil. Their territory is in the south of Amazon’s tropical forest. They have a unique way of life thus the most studied Indian groups in the Amazonia. The Kayapo hunt, fish, gathers various fauna and flora of the forest, and practice shifting cultivation (Wilson & Peter, 1988, p.140). In terms of their environment and political activism, the Kayapo are highly advanced and very concern thus they are able to balance the use of their territory’s resources. They live in thatch-roofed, sleep in hammocks, use canoes for travel, produce lovely beaded jewellery, woven hammocks, and beautifully crafted hunting tools. The Kayapo are different from other indigenous groups in the Amazon as they still adhere to traditional customs and ways of life such as body ornamentation and painting with jaguar and achiote. (Fabius, 2010, p.76). The Kayapo became famous in the late 1980s as they fought for their territories and rights when the Brazilian government tried to construct six hydroelectric dams (Rambaldi et al, 2006, p.75). Brazil’s heritage resources Brazil’s cultural heritage is both material and intangible assess that bear witness to the identity, action, and characteristics of the Brazilian society. These include forms of expression, way of living, buildings, objects, documents, and places of historical, natural, artistic, archaeological, paleontological, ecological, and scientific value (Silverman & Ruggles, 2008, p.107). These include Brazil’s top historical sites such as the 11,000 year-old rock painting at Monte Alegre in the Amazon reflecting the oldest Brazilian creation; Minas de Passagem near Ouro Preto – a 1700s-era mine where black slaves worked and died; and the mystical ruins of 18th century Jesuit settlement showing the legacy of the Spanish colonialism in Brazil or Sao Miguel das Missoes which is part of Unesco’s World Heritage site; and the lavish 1896 opera house demonstrating the great wealth of the Amazon’s rubber barons (Louis & Chandler, 2010, p.41). Brazil’s various colonial cities and towns offer beautiful heritage sites such as the 17th century Church of Bom Jesus de Matonsinhos in the city of Congonhas and the 18th century Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in the town Mariana with magnificent painted ceiling done by Master Ataide. Tourist can also visit Octavia Frias de Oilveira Bridge- the world’s first X-shaped bridge located in Sao Paulo or view all 275 waterfalls across the Iguacu River in the state of Parana near the border of Argentina. The 49, 200 hectares National Park or Parque das Aves is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to 900 birds of 150 species, butterflies, reptiles, and wildlife reflecting Brazil’s rich ecosystem (Dicks, 2005, p.17). Aside from Carnaval, Rio de Janeiro also offers the Musee Naval e Oceanografico or Maritime and Oceanographic Museum; the 200,000 seater Maracona football stadium, the Musee do Indio – a museum built to show the unique qualities of Brazil’s indigenous Indian population; different samba schools where visitors can learn Brazilian dance; and the Musee Internacional de Arte Naif- the largest collection of primitive art (Swarbrooke & Page, 2012, p.365). History of tourism in Brazil Since the country is far from the United States or Europe compared to other tourist destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean, tourism development in Brazil has been slow (Levine, 2003, p.179). The Carnaval is the main promoter of tourism in Brazil (Brebbia & Pineda, 2010, p.427) and it had attracted large numbers of tourist since the 1970s (Vincent, 2003, p.87). However, the tourism industry during that time was poorly organized – politics, poverty levels, and lack of adequate tourist facilities contributed to discouragement of potential tourists (Dicks, 2005, p.50). Tourism in Brazil has undergone four stages of development since the 1970s that represent the period when more than one million tourists visited Brazil. However, due to political and economic instability brought about by a dictatorship rule, tourism in the Brazil in the 1980s deteriorated. Brazil has many attractions that can draw mass tourism but tourism authorities were not able to turn these assets into world-class destination as international tourist arrivals in the early 1990s was just over one million (Jafari, 2003, p.57). It was only in 1995 when Brazil’s economic performance improved that number of tourist arrivals started to increase and in 1997, with the help of the Inter-American Development Bank, the Brazilian government invested 200 million dollars in the development of eco-tourism in the Amazon in 1997 (Weaver, 2001, p.68). Tourist arrivals further improved and reached five million when the dictatorial regime ends in 1999 (Lohman & Dredge, 2012, p.6). The creation of the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism in 2003 suggests that the federal government is committed in further in improving the tourism sector. In 2008, the Tourism General Act was approved by Brazil’s national congress while the National Tourism Plan for 2012-15 is aimed at increasing tourist arrivals and spending; improve competitiveness of Brazilian tourism; and strengthen management of tourism (OECD, 2012, p.337). ‘Push’ factors People have different motives for travelling but the primary push factors include the need to belong, seeking self-fulfilment, and spiritual growth, tired of their ordinary environment at home, escaping inclement weather, psychological renewal, and altruism (Timothy & Tye, 2009, p.3). The major international tourist markets to Brazil include some prosperous countries in South America, USA, and Europe that typically well-to-do, with time and money, adventurous, and tired of cold weather. For this reason, tourists coming from these regions of cite sunny weather and beaches, nature, ecotourism, and adventure for travelling to Brazil (Lohman & Dredge, 2012, p.10). ‘Pull’ factors These factors are those that pull tourist towards a certain destination similar to Brazil and commonly determined by meeting the push factors mentioned earlier (Lubbe, 2003, p.34). In a survey conducted in 2007, the primary pull factors of Brazil include sun and beach with 83.6%; nature, ecotourism or adventure at 12.6% (Prideaux & Carson, 2010, p.57). The main tourist attractions include the Iguacu Falls, Rio’s Carnival, the Amazon adventure, great beaches throughout the country, Brazilian cuisine and precious stones, history and culture, and the warm, open, and friendly locals (Mancini, 2008, p.221). Likely motivational factors Motivation is a major determinant of tourist’s behaviour and it is strongly associated with the concept of needs – a force that arouses motivated behaviour (Mansfeld & Pizam, 1999, p.7). Therefore, discovering tourist motivation in visiting Brazil requires an understanding of the needs and fulfilment of these needs. A study about Brazil’s tourism suggests that the Carnival is one of the most positive and important factor in the decision to go to Brazil because it is linked to its image as a people and country- cultural tourism. Another is tropicalism or the need for warm environment (Brebbia & Pineda, 2010, p.423). However, if one will consider the five classes of tourist motivations and examine the pull factors of Brazil, then the likely motivational factors aside from cultural will be climate and environment, relaxation, adventure, and educational (Bowen & Clarke, 2009, p.90). For instance, Brazil’s sun and beaches offers fun and relaxation for most international tourist while the Amazon offers both adventure and education. The motivation for engaging in ecotourism is educational in the sense that some tourist go to Brazil to learn about local plants, animals, landscape, and other things that are uniquely Brazilian (Zanotti & Chernela, 2008, p.496). Promotion of Brazil as a tourist destination The government of Brazil promote its country in various ways. Primarily, Brazil used the Rio Carnival to position itself as a country of fun and frolic (Devashish, 2011, p.148). Marketing programmes developed by Embratur, the agency responsible for marketing Brazil internationally include advertising on foreign televisions showing the beautiful beaches and spectacular view of the Amazon and Iguassu Falls. They also have print ads in selected magazines and newspapers distributed locally and abroad through travel operators; Postcards of Brazil’s tourist attractions; Ads promoting cruise holiday gift vouchers; websites such as Visit Brazil http://www.visitbrasil.com/ and Brazil Travel Information http://www.braziltravelinformation.com/; posters and sponsorships of events such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics that will be held in Rio de Janeiro (Hudson, 2008, p.275). Activities of tourist in Brazil “Tourist behaviour and activities are the result of choices” (Hall & Page, p.73) thus varies from person to person. However, depending on the effectiveness of marketing strategy, tourist behaviour can be induced and stimulated to take a particular destination and do some other activities (Lohman & Dredge, 2012, p.93). In Brazil, tourist are engage in pilgrimage, exploration of Brazil’s natural beauty, shopping, scuba diving, deep-see fishing, and enjoy the sound and sights of the Carnival (Brazil Travel Guide, 2012, p.1). In Rio de Janeiro for instance, tourist can engage in hang gliding. Visit the Christ the Redeemer statue at the top of the Corcovado Mountain. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Sugarloaf Mountain in Pao de Aqucar or do mountain biking in Vargem Grande. They can also engage in scuba diving off the Cagarras Island or simply swim and enjoy the sun in Brazil’s great beaches. Food lovers can also go to Mercado Municipal in Sao Paulo and savour fresh fruits, spices, and more. For the more adventurous tourist, they can do nature-based activities in the untouched wildlife of the Amazon (ibid, p.3). The impact of tourism on Brazilian society Tourism has the potential to provide a range of positive and negative impacts. The economic impact for instance is often positive since tourism creates jobs and business opportunities. However, since tourism involves both development and deterioration of natural environment, it can also lead to elimination or reduction of traditional resource use and different environmental, social and economic consequences. For instance, tourist exploration of natural areas can negatively affect the soil, vegetation, wildlife, and social conditions (Newsome et al, 2002, p.138). In Brazil, the creation of National Parks results to intense socioeconomic and upset for the relocated people who are mostly from lower-income group (Herremans, 2006, p.279). Tourism in Brazil also affects local culture positively and negatively. Positive in the sense that brought cultural enhancement and negative because it enables commodification of culture, standardization, deterioration of traditional systems, and loss of cultural identity (Equitable Tourism, 2005, p.40). Accommodation in Brazil Tourist in Brazil can choose from different types of accommodation that include hotels, serviced apartments and villas, budget accommodation such as hostels, pousadas (small family hotels), camping sites, cabins and cottages. Luxury hotels include Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, Convento do Carmo Hotel in Salvador, Copacabana Palace – a landmark in Rio, Intercontinental San Paulo, and others. In the Amazon, well-off tourist can stay in the largest treetop hotel in the world - The Ariau Amazon Towers – offering 268 treetop rooms. Small but comfortable, the Juma Amazon Lodge offer tourist a real and unique experience of the untouched Amazon rainforest as it located in the remote region of Juma. Gastronomic Experiences The gastronomic capital of Brazil is Sao Paulo (Louis & Chandler, 2010, p.87) with over a thousand restaurants offering 46 different cuisines that include Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Greek, Jewish, Thai, Arab, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Tourist can also savour regional cuisines from different parts of Brazil such Minas Gerais, Maranhoa, Bahia, and many others. Sao Paulo is home for countless fast food outlets specially delis and hamburgers. Aside from restaurants offering gourmet hamburgers that are seasoned by renowned international chefs, Sao Paulo is known for its pizza and draught beer served in some restaurants with side dishes such as bean stew and barbecued chicken. Local eateries also serve the famous Bauru ham, mozzarella, and tomato sandwich (Spturismo, 2012, p.1-32). Transportation Brazil has an extensive transportation system with air and land links throughout the country (Lew et al, 2008, p.344). They can ride a double-decker bus that covers the main tourist destinations, taxi that is the most popular method of transportation in the city, or rent a car. Domestic flights are also available for those who want to visit other states of Brazil. However, tourists who want to explore the jungle interior, visit indigenous villages, or hike in the rainforest can only travel by boat on the Amazon River and tributaries (Frommer, 2012, p.3). Conclusion Brazil offers a vast array of sites and experiences for tourist. They can enjoy the warm weather, great beaches, gigantic parks, breathtaking waterfalls, experience festive carnivals, and get to know the warm and welcoming people of Brazil. Brazil is destination for both cultural and ecotourism, international and domestic. Tourism improved Brazil’s economic performance, reduced unemployment, and provided business opportunities for Brazilians and foreign investors alike. However, ecotourism in particular affects the natural environment and result to a number of social and economic consequences. Although the Brazilian tourism policy seems improving towards sustainable tourism, they must strive harder in protecting both traditional cultures and natural environments. References Bowen D. & Clarke J, (2009), Contemporary Tourist Behaviour: Yourself and Others as Tourists, CABI, US Brazil Travel Information, (2012), Brazil Travel Guide, available online at http://www.braziltravelinformation.com/ Brazil Travel Guides, (2012), Brazil Things to See and Do, available online at http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/brazil/brazil-activities/ Brebbia C. & Pineda F, (2010), Sustainable Tourism IV, WIT Press, UK Devashish D, (2011), Tourism Marketing, Pearson Education, India Dicks B, (2005), Brazil, Evans Brothers, US Fabius C, (2010), Jagua, a Journey Into Body Art from the Amazon, eBooklt,com, US Frommer, (2012), The Amazon: Manaus and Belem, Brazil: Frommer’s Shortcuts, John Wiley & Sons, US EQUATIONS, (2005), A WTO-GATS- Tourism Impact Assessment Framework for Developing Countries, Equitable Tourism Options, India Hall C. & Page S, (2006), The Geography of Tourism and Recreation: Environment, Place and Space, Routledge, UK Herremans I, (2006), Cases in Sustainable Tourism: An Experiential Approach to Making Decisions, Routledge, US Hudson S, (2008), Tourism and Hospitality Marketing: A Global Perspective, SAGE, UK Infoplease.com, (2012), Map: Brazil, available online at http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/brazil.html Jafari J, (2003), Encyclopaedia of Tourism, Routledge, UK Levine R, (2003), The History of Brazil, Palgrave MacMillan, UK Lohman G. & Dredge D, (2012), Contemporary Geographies of Leisure, Tourism, and Mobility, Routledge, UK Louis R. & Chandler G, (2010), Brazil, Lonely Planet, Singapore OECD, (2012), OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2012, OECD Publishing, France Lubbe B, (2003), Tourism Management in Southern Africa, Pearson, South Africa Mancini M, (2008), Selling Destinations: Geography for the Travel Professional, Cengage Learning, US Mansfeld Y. & Pizam A, (1999), Consumer Behaviour in Travel and Tourism, Routledge, UK Newsome D, Moore S, & Dowling R, (2002), Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts, and Management, Channel View Publications, UK Prideaux B. & Carson D, (2010), Drive Tourism: Trends and Emerging Markets, Taylor & Francis, UK Rambaldi G, Corbett J, & McCall M, (2006), Mapping for Change, Practice, Technologies, and Communication, IIED, US Silverman H. & Ruggles D, (2008), Cultural Heritage and Human Rights, Springer, Germany Spturismo.com, (2012), Sao Paulo: The Many Attractions of a World-Class City on the move around the clock, available online at http://www.visitesaopaulo.com/pdf/spturis-revista-en.pdf Swarbrooke J. & Page S, (2012), Development and Management of Visitor Attractions, Routledge, UK Timothy D. & Teye V, (2009), Tourism and the Lodging Sector, Routledge, US Tourist Office of the Embassy of Brazil in London, (2011), Brazil: Tourism, TOEBL, 1-52 Vincent J, (2003), Culture and Customs of Brazil, Greenwood Publishing Group, US Visit Brazil.com, (2012), ESCOLHA A MELHOR MANEIRA DE CONHECER O BRASIL, available online at http://www.visitbrasil.com/ Waggoner J, (2011), The Amazon of Brazil, Hunter Publishing, US Weaver D, (2001), The Encyclopaedia of Ecotourism, CABI, US Wilson E. & Peter F, (1988), Biodiversity, National Academies, US Zanott L. & Chernela J, (2008), Conflicting Cultures of Nature: Ecotourism, Education, and the Kayapo of the Brazilian Amazon, Tourism Geographies, Vol. 10, No.4, 495-521 Read More