Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Final Touches on Ecotourism Plan for Amazonia

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 2 2006 (IPS) - After five years of preparation, the Brazilian government is putting the final touches on the plan for ecotourism in Amazonia, which will be ready in six months, environmental official Alan Milhomens told Tierramérica. “The strategy combines the attraction of interesting locations and the demand and profile of national and international tourists interested in the region,” said Milhomens, coordinator of Proecotur, the program for development of ecotourism in Amazonia.

“Among the potential tourists, the Amazon trademark is disassociated from Brazil, as something unique that must be preserved, which indicates the need for sustainable tourism,” he said.

According to a study by the Ministry of Environment, released on Nov. 30, the Amazon region could interest 52 percent of the European tourism market and 40 percent of the U.S. and Asian markets