Palms on a Brazilian beach © F H Mira
The long-lasting impression most visitors leave Brazil with is
of carefree, colourful people dancing and celebrating in the street
parades at Carnaval, and of a passion for life and exuberance of
spirit that charms visitors from around the world. Tourists
descending on the country's fabulous cities, such as hedonistic Rio
de Janeiro, can enjoy the five-star hotels, shopping malls,
beautiful beaches, sunny skies and inspirational restaurants
without really having to confront the hundreds of shantytowns
(favelas) where the poorest of the poor eke out a living in the
shadows of the skyscrapers.
With booming mining, agricultural and manufacturing sectors,
Brazil has the highest GDP in Latin America and is expected to be
one of the world's dominant economies by the middle of this
century. Brazil also caters well for business tourism and is a
favoured destination for conventions, congresses and expos,
particularly the city of Sao Paulo, which is the country's largest
city and the business capital of Brazil.
Being so vast, larger than continental United States, Brazil
offers a variety of cultures and topographies. The range is evident
in the contrast of the Amazon rain forest to the mountain towns of
Minas Gerais, the urban jungle of Sao Paulo and the vast central
plateau around Brasilia and the world-famous beaches of Copacabana
and Ipanema. It all adds up to an exotic and exciting Latin
American mix where the common denominators are samba, sunshine,
sultry smiles and soccer.
