Number of cities with tourist potential decreases in Brazil, points Government

The number of cities with tourist potential decreased between 2013 and 2016 editions of Brazilian tourism map, according to data from the Ministry of tourism. In 2013, 3,345 municipalities were mapped in 303 tourist regions throughout the country. Already in the current version, are municipalities in 291 2,175 tourist regions.
The 2016 version of map was released on Tuesday (12). She identifies the cities of tourist interest and those who, somehow, if impact by tourism – as, for example, those who don''t get tourists, but send or labour inputs to nearby towns that are effectively.
According to the Ministry of tourism, of the 26 States of the country, 24 had reduced the number of municipalities between 2013 and 2016 versions. Just Stop and Santa Catarina registered an increase.
According to the Government, however, the fall in the number of cities is considered beneficial, because, with a leaner version, "the organs are able to prioritize effectively, the municipalities that adopt the tourism development strategy".
"Across the map, public money is best applied in the regions that really have tourist vocation," says Rogerio Cóser, Director of the Planning Department of tourism. "If we could meet the 5,570 municipalities in Brazil with a lot of money, we''d be with a smile from ear to ear. But, unfortunately, the situation is difficult, so we have to use what little we have. "
According to the Ministry, the current map "features a picture more suited to the reality of the country", because not all the cities of the previous version had tourism potential. That''s because 92% (1,078) the municipalities which left the map were listed as D and e within the program of categorisation of tourist towns — that is, they no longer had infrastructure able to attract tourists to their cities.
Compiling the map
According to the Government, the map serves as a guide to better targeting policies and public funds to cities and areas with tourism potential.
"It is an instrument which aims to assist the federal Government and the States in the implementation of public policies. With the mapping, the Manager can direct funds to certain regions, because sometimes we see money being used in cities that do not have a vocation for tourism. It may even be in an excellent work for the city, but could become a white elephant because of lack of demand, "says Cóser.
The construction of the map is done in conjunction with the organs of State tourism. Were made workshops and meetings in every State to define which cities fit into the criteria adopted. These criteria are based on an Ordinance of the Ministry that considers, among other things, the existence of a body responsible for the budget, and the regional tourism. The city also needs to sign a commitment to the Ministry of tourism.
"Local and regional authorities have made meetings, discussed and decided who had conditions to enter the map. This information was approved and passed to the Ministry of tourism, which made the map, "says Cóser. "In this process, some cities have been removed from the map because unfortunately does not answer the criteria of the Ordinance. It''s not the Ministry which says that x or y is or out of the map. Those who know the reality of local tourism are their own municipalities and States. "
The Director says that the map is not an exclusive policy, but "just a tool for the best application of public resources". Thus, a city that didn''t get on the map in the current version you can get into the next case falls within the criteria used. He also stresses that the Court of Auditors and the Senate recognize the periodic update of the map as a good practice of the Executive of the Ministry of tourism.
Categorization
In addition to showing which cities have tourist potential, the map divides the municipalities in the categories and. The categorization is made from an analysis of quantitative data, such as number of establishments, number of formal jobs linked to tourism, tourists from domestic and international demand, among other factors. A city categorized as, for example, has demands and tourist infrastructure well above that a city categorized as and.
São Paulo is the State with the most cities on the category: 10. Among them are the coastal Santos, Guarujá, Praia Grande, Ubatuba and Sao Sebastiao. In Brazil, are 51 in all.
According to the map, 29% (630) of municipalities are in categories A, B and C, these municipalities concentrated 93% of the flow of domestic tourists and 100% international flow.
The remaining 1,545 municipalities (71% of the total) are in categories D and e. These targets do not have significant domestic and international tourist flow, but, according to the Government, some have important role in regional tourist flow and need support for the generation and formalization of jobs and establishments.
"This category serves to subsidize strategic decisions of public policies and specific policies for each type of municipality. It does not help build a giant events in a town of 4000 inhabitants, for example, "says Cóser.