Rio, a magical city also for events

With Copa América 2019's kick off in Rio de Janeiro last June 14th, in the last five years Brazil has hosted three of the biggest global events: the World Cup, the Olympic Games and Copa América.

Mega events like these brought Rio many benefits, including the restructuring of the city, greater mobility, more infrastructure and events equipment. But there is a darker side: some of the smaller events, which usually happened in the city, were relocated. "What happened to the city, especially in the year of the Olympics, was that Rio Centro, our largest Convention Centre, was closed for eight months and many of the events that happen in Rio de Janeiro, or that would happen that year, could not occur because the Centre was all taken by the Olympics. These events have left Rio," says Tatiana Kingston of the Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau. Interviewed by Event Point during IMEX Frankfurt, she underlined the great job of capturing and promoting that was needed after those big events. "I suppose this is a natural circumstance in all Olympic cities, that all go through a similar process and that it was not exclusive of Rio de Janeiro. But it is hard work, preparing the city to host this massive event", following more "hard work after the Olympics to return to normal," she says. The city currently occupies the 56th place in ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)'s world ranking, being the second Brazilian city to appear in the list, after São Paulo, which is in the 40th position.

In a press conference at IMEX, the institution reported, for example, the work that has been done on the destination in terms of mobility, with an Operations Centre that monitors the city and minimises the impact of events, with measures that even benefit them. As far as security is concerned, Tatiana Kingston told Event Point that it has been "improving more and more." "The Rio Convention Bureau has very close contact with the Rio de Janeiro Tourist Police and the Operations Centre and we are constantly working in partnership with them to ensure extra security and get a better feel," she assures. Tatiana Kingston says many of the insecurity news are exaggerated or misguided. Regarding the political climate in a highly divided country, she states that "the trade is working hard to move even politically, so that there is support. Rio de Janeiro, as a city, and as a trade, understands how important all types of market are, and that all kinds of people are welcome." Tatiana Kingston reminds us that "this is our job, to receive tourists the best way possible; we are here to work for tourists."

Portugal and Rio

Portugal is in the top 10 of Rio de Janeiro's incoming markets. According to data from 2017, provided by the Convention Bureau, the country occupies the 7th place in a list led by Argentina. Good flight connections between both destinations help that more than 40,000 people have visited Rio that year.

Photo credits: Leonardo Ferreira Mendes

Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa