SAHIC Latin America & The Caribbean, the leading investment forum for hotels and tourism in Latin America, took place on March 24 and 25 at the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro. The event brought together investors, entrepreneurs and experts to discuss trends, opportunities and challenges in the sector, with a focus on Brazil’s tourism infrastructure and attracting foreign investment.
Among the participants, Caio Calfat, a reference in the real estate and tourism market, shared his vision on the growth of the sector and the obstacles that still need to be overcome for Brazil to consolidate itself as a globally competitive destination.
Tourist Potential X Structural Challenges
Brazil has stunning natural landscapes and a promising market for tourism investments. However, according to Calfat, the country still faces significant challenges, such as the precariousness of its air network and insecurity. “We have beautiful beaches, but there are many beautiful beaches in the world. What we need is to improve infrastructure, air connectivity and security to attract more foreign tourists,” he said.
Another problem highlighted is the low number of international tourists. While neighboring countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay, receive significant numbers of visitors, Brazil is still struggling to surpass the mark of 6 million foreign tourists per year. “This is not a reason to celebrate, it is worrying. We need more investment in international promotion,” said Calfat.
Investments and Growth in the Real Estate-Tourism Sector
Despite the challenges, the timeshare sector in Brazil has shown significant growth. In just 12 years, around 200 developments have been launched, even before the modality was officially regulated. “This shows the strength of the private sector, which continues to develop, often despite the government,” Calfat highlighted.
As the founder of ADIT Brasil (the Brazilian Association for Real Estate and Tourism Development), an organization that has been promoting business and training professionals in the sector for 20 years, he emphasizes the importance of the regulatory environment to attract investors. “We have been working to create a more structured and reliable sector, and the market response has been positive,” he said.
Perspectives for the Future of Tourism in Brazil
The rapprochement between the productive sector and the government has been an important step forward, according to Calfat. “Before, the government got in the way. Now, at least, it doesn’t get in the way and is even starting to help,” he said, citing recent efforts by the Ministry of Tourism to strengthen the sector.
The expert believes that domestic tourism will be the major driver of growth in the coming years, but that there is still a long way to go to attract more foreign visitors. “If there is no heavy investment in international promotion, we will have a hard time competing with other global destinations,” he warned.
Despite the challenges, Calfat maintains an optimistic outlook. “The productive market always finds a way to overcome difficulties and create opportunities. Tourism has enormous potential in Brazil, and we are beginning to realize this,” he concluded.
Report and photo: Mary de Aquino.