Brazil competes, for the third consecutive year, for the title of 'Best Cruise Destination in South America' by the World Travel Awards (WTA). The award, one of the most recognized in the sector, considered the 'Oscar of tourism', reaches its 31st edition in 2024. The country is a two-time champion and has already won in the category in 2022 and 2023, when it was also nominated for the world award. Winners will be chosen by online voting on the WTA website (https://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote). The race began last Monday (19) and will continue until April 17.
According to data from the Cruise Lines International Association (Clia), the largest cruise industry association in the world, the 2022/2023 Brazilian cruise season recorded a significant increase in economic activity. More than 5 billion reais were injected into the economy, with 79,567 jobs and a record number of more than 800,000 cruise passengers. Also according to the association, the fiscal generation was R$ 546.2 million and the forecast is that the 2023/2024 season will be even better.
The president of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo, highlights that “Brazil is one of the countries with the greatest vocation for nautical and cruise tourism in the world.” “The 2022/2023 cruise season was considered the biggest of the decade and we expect 2023/2024 to be even bigger. More than 5 billion reais were injected into the Brazilian economy. This energizes the local and surrounding economies, generates employment and income for the population, attracts international tourists who want to visit our beaches and improves everyone's lives,” he says.
Freixo also spoke about the importance of maintaining the WTA awards. “Brazil has already won the title of Best Cruise Destination in South America by the WTA in the last two years. In 2024 we want to position the country as a destination of excellence in nautical tourism on a global level. Therefore, we have to look for those votes,” she called.
The announcement of the candidacy and the launch of the campaign to capture votes and guarantee the tri will take place during Cruise360 Brazil, a Clia event that will bring together the main representatives and partners of nautical tourism in Brazil and which takes place in Santos (SP) this Saturday (24th) and Sunday (25th), more than 300 participants are expected.
The executive president of Clia Brasil, Marco Ferraz, spoke optimistically about the expectations for the event. “We are very happy to announce Brazil in the competition as the best WTA cruise destination in South America, in a moment as special as the first edition of Cruise360 Brazil, before an audience of more than 200 travel agents and dozens of players. , authorities, professionals and executives that make up the national cruise industry. This expands the country's visibility worldwide, joining forces with Clia's work in favor of the development of cruises not only in Brazil, but in South America."
Diverse country
Brazil is a country with a great diversity of navigation destinations, starting with the more than 8 thousand kilometers of coastline, in addition to the thousands of kilometers of navigable rivers. According to the manager of Experiences and International Competitiveness of Embratur, Mónica Samia, the nomination is a recognition of the joint effort of public and private initiatives to improve and promote the diversity and innovation of experiences in the country. “Brazil already has stunning beaches, a rich and diverse culture and warm Brazilian hospitality,” she says.
According to Embratur's Nature and Special Segments coordinator, Leonardo Persi, “the alliance with Clia Brasil is essential for us to consolidate Brazil as a leader in cruise destinations in South America.” “We celebrate the holding of Cruise360 for the first time in Brazil, which has the institutional support of Embratur, inviting all participants to vote for Brazil in the award,” he added.