Opening ceremony was attended by travel agents and media and the presence of Gastão Vieira, the current Minister of Tourism in Brazil

We performed a moment ago, the opening ceremony of the 40th edition of ABAV - The Tourism Fair of the Americas. After a delay of an hour and a half, President of National ABAV, Antonio Azevedo, spoke for the first time to press and travel agents. "This is the ideal platform for the industry players, exhibitors and visitors to achieve results, increase their knowledge and contacts, identify market trends and make great business," he said.

Ahead of the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (National ABAV) since last year, the executive emphasized the importance of the event for the sector as a whole, emphasizing that today tourism is essential for economic and social development, that leads to rate this encounter as a "leading international trade fair for tourism in Brazil."

After mentioning the strategic partnership with ITB Berlin, the largest tourism fair in the world, and the Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa (BTL), Azevedo said the support of the Forum of Associations of Travel Agencies in Latin America and Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism (APAVT), revealing then the numbers of the event: more than 1,350 exhibitors spread over nearly 450 booths in a total area of 45 thousand square meters, 15% more space in relation to the issue of last year. With the presence of 51 countries, the expectation is that, by Friday (27), moved by Riocentro over 20 thousand people.

Although in 2013 the ABAV moves to the São Paulo city, the association´s president did not rule out the possibility in the future, the event returns to the city of Rio de Janeiro. "This region will benefit greatly by structural investments devoted to mega sporting events, including the necessary expansion of its hotel supply, making it more competitive and attractive," he said.

During the speech, Azevedo addressed the issue of Law Project 5.120, which regulates the activity performed by travel agents, special attention and asked the minister Gaston Vieira regarding the approval of the PL. Moreover, it has one of the novelties for next year´s edition: ABAV opens to the public end, to stimulate buying agencies and extension of routes, destinations and Brazilian products.

The president also cited the Guaranty Fund Services Tourism, the entity proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and aims to protect the interests of consumers, major hit when a tourist service provider chooses to suspend its activities suddenly. In this sense, Azevedo warned that ABAV expects the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) ensures the security and credibility of the entire system, monitoring closely the largest airports in the country.

With respect to airlines, the executive noted that the relationship with ABAV is the best possible, despite some political differences. As an example, Azevedo cited strength in effecting the recovery of DU in all its channels, which includes selling through the internet. If adopted, this would be extremely favorable to the agency, increasing its cash flow and reducing risk of disrupting operations, and allows the company to minimize the collection of fines.

Antonio Azevedo finished his speech with a special thanks to the entire team at ABAV and defended the importance of keeping the class together and ended with the verses of the singer Geraldo Vandré: "Come, let´s go, not knowing what to expect, perhaps making time, do not expect to happen. "

Authorities present

Among the officials attending the opening ceremony, the highlight was the presence of Gastão Vieira, Brazilian Minister of Tourism. After highlighting the weight that is fair for the sector, Vieira took the opportunity to disclose some data from the fifth edition of research that studies the behavior of Brazilian tourists between 2007 and 2011.

According to the study, which surveyed 39,000 households, the amount of people that performs travel within the country grew 18.5%, which, in numbers, corresponds to an increase of 9.2 million travelers. Just last year, almost half of the population (48.5%) traveled at least once. Of the respondents, 44% chose to go nationwide. The preference for domestic travel rose from 161 million in 2007 to 191 million in 2011.

Although the amount of travel undertaken by people with incomes of up to four minimum wages have grown more than 21%, appeared to lack of money as the main reason that prevents tourists from traveling. In turn, the wealthier families, who survive more than 15 thousand dollars, claimed lack of time. The research also showed that leisure is still a great lever sector: increased from 80.3% in 2007 to 81.4% last year.

Beside Gastão Vieira, solemn on the table, were big names in tourism: Cecilia Meireles, Secretary of State for Tourism of Portugal, Antonio Ribeiro de Melo, representing Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio de Janeiro; Ronald Azaro, Secretary of State for Tourism , representing Governor Sérgio Cabral; Ronaldo Vieira Coutinho, governor of Paraíba; Edmar Bull, president of the Brazilian Association of Corporate Travel Agencies (Abracorp) and Jackson Pitombo Cavalcante Son, Secretary of State of Parana, among others.

Ribbon cutting

After the opening ceremony at the plenary session of the Village of Knowledge, Antonio Azevedo and Gastão Vieira went to the entrance of Hall 3 Riocentro where, alongside Antonio Loureiro and Luis Carlos Vargas, Director General for Brazil, Portugal and Spain and Travelport´s country manager, respectively, proceeded to cut the ribbon, officially opening the event.

The example of what happened in 2011, the action was accompanied by the symbolic act of planting a tree, kicking off the campaign "For a greener trade", which consists in offsetting CO2 transmissions issued on behalf of the event. The purpose of this act is to reiterate the belief of the entity and Travelport importance of sustainable development in tourism.