Rio de Janeiro drives tourism with hotel summit and convention program

On July 14, five‑star hotel general managers gathered at a HotéisRIO‑organized meeting in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the surge of Chinese tourists and public‑security concerns. Chinese officials Wang Haitao, adjunct consul‑general, and Chang Tianyue, vice‑consul, attended, emphasizing China’s strategic market role. Municipal data show a 44.1% increase in Chinese arrivals from January to May 2025, with 4,900 visitors. Participants called for Mandarin‑speaking staff, clearer airport and site signage, and more Chinese‑cuisine restaurants. State Public‑Security Secretary Victor Santos highlighted the need to contain crime in the city’s 2.5 million‑inhabitant communities to protect tourism.

Separately, the Federation of Convention & Visitors Bureaux of Rio de Janeiro (FC&VB‑RJ) launched a 12‑month consultancy program in Teresópolis. Consultant Roberta Werner of Visit Rio worked with local officials to professionalise the convention bureau, improve promotional content, and attract events to the Serrana region. Federation president Guilherme Abreu said the initiative aims to build a coordinated network that strengthens the competitiveness of Rio’s destinations.