The chairman of Tourism Australia, Rick Allert, was in Rio de Janeiro during the first week of May as to address a Brazilian Tourism Board (EMBRATUR) seminar titled “The Olympic Games and Tourism - Australia's Experience and the United Kingdom's Preparations”. Mr Allert’s speech covered the experience and expertise in international promotion Sydney and Australia gained from hosting the 2000 Olympics.
At the same event the President of EMBRATUR, Jeanine Pires, signed a technical co-operation agreement with VisitBritain aimed at boosting the entry of foreign visitors into the respective countries over the next six years, which will see London host the 2012 Olympics, Brazil the 2014 World Cup and Rio de Janeiro the 2016 Olympics.
Beyond Mr Allert’s participation in the seminar, a similar knowledge sharing agreement between Australia and Brazil was not mentioned; additional information on any plans to change this situation is being sought.
EMBRATUR also used the event launched its new programme to attract more international events based on the oncoming wave of international exposure and improved tourism infrastructure for the country.