The Ministry of Tourism announced last month the opening of an extraordinary public tender for the registration of agencies interested in planning and hosting Chinese tourists in Brazil. In total, 299 companies submitted applications.

The initiative aims to broaden and improve the quality of the national tourism offering aimed at the Chinese market, in a context where the country is assessing the application of the principle of reciprocity in visa requirements. Since last year, China no longer requires this document from Brazilian tourists. The selected companies will be able to operate for an initial period of one year.

Currently, 325 agencies are qualified to provide this type of service. Part of this total includes companies already involved in previous processes, whose accreditation was automatically renewed without the need to participate in the extraordinary tender launched in March.

The measure falls within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2004 between Brazil and China. Under the terms of the bilateral agreement, it is the responsibility of the Brazilian government to designate or recommend national agencies responsible for organising group travel for Chinese tourists to the country.

(Source: Brasilturis, on 28 April)