The new president of the Brazilian Agency for the International Promotion of Tourism, EMBRATUR, Marcelo Freixo, took office with the main objective of recovering the international image of Brazil to attract more tourists, generate new investments and create jobs in the country. Freixo was appointed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on January 13.
"After four years of international isolation caused by the irresponsibility of the previous government, Brazil will return to the world scene to resume its leading role in promoting dialogue, cooperation on environmental issues and climate change. At EMBRATUR, our mission will be give Brazilian tourism the importance it deserves and that the world expects of us," he explained.
The same day that he assumed the presidency of EMBRATUR, Freixo announced that the first step in his administration will be an internal reorganization of the organization. "We will carry out a technical and transparent management, based on good market practices; we will resume the focus on marketing, promotion and support for the commercialization of Brazil abroad, based on data intelligence and big data, alliances with the public and private sectors , investments in innovation, insertion of the sustainability agenda, climate change and focus on results," the official announced.
The new president of EMBRATUR announced his intention to work together with the ministries whose actions are directly related to the modernization of public policies and programs aimed at promoting Brazilian destinations abroad. "In addition to integrating our actions into the foreign policy agenda and that of various ministries of Lula's government, we will resume dialogue with the market and the entities that carry out international promotion actions. We will build a modern, professional, efficient EMBRATUR committed to the sustainable development", concluded Freixo.
WHO IS MARCELO FREIXO?
The new president of EMBRATUR is 55 years old, is a history professor and was born in a poor community of São Gonçalo, a city in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The eldest son of a low-income family, Freixo was elected state deputy for the first time in Rio de Janeiro in 2006, he was a candidate for the government of the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2012 and 2016, and also for the government of that state, in 2022 Elected federal deputy in 2018, the same year that Jair Bolsonaro became President of the Republic, he was the leader of the opposition to Bolsonaro, which earned him twice being chosen as the best parliamentarian in Brazil at the Congresso em Foco Award. Marcelo Freixo was a key member of the transition team of the Lula government, integrating the group that was in charge of policies for the tourism sector.