Freixo says Embratur has money only until the end of the year after Lula’s veto

The president of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo (PT), has been trying to circumvent the setbacks suffered by the autarchy since the beginning of the year to promote Brazilian tourism in the country and abroad, mainly after president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), who is supporter, to veto the mandatory transfer of 5% of the S System’s resources to the agency.

Freixo says that Embratur’s current budget should only last until the end of the year to carry out actions and maintain the portfolio, and that the R$ 450 million that would be raised with the transfer will be missed.

Lula justified the veto by arguing that the measure would take considerable amounts away from the entities, which could cause damage to social services. After the veto, Freixo managed to close an agreement with the National Confederation of Commerce (CNC) that establishes that Sesc and Senac will invest R$ 100 million per year in the agency’s shares.

“We have a company to promote all of Brazilian tourism, which generates culture, and has no source of funding. Meanwhile, all countries invest a lot in tourism. We managed to close an agreement for R$ 100 million to be transferred and the government is open for dialogue so that we can resolve the budget”, he said in an interview published in the newspaper O Globo this Sunday (11).

In addition to the veto on the transfer of the S System, Freixo also saw the president reinstate the mandatory need for a visa for foreigners from four countries to enter Brazil: the United States, Japan, Canada and Australia. Citizens of these nations have been free from permission since 2019, when former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) edited a decree releasing the requirement.

The president of Embratur, however, minimized the act and says that he has been working to create a system that facilitates the issuance of visas to these countries. “This is the government’s position and it is up to me to respect it,” he said.

“Now in Foz do Iguaçu I had a meeting with Itaipu Binacional and we closed an agreement for EmbraturLAB. The company will invest in improving visa production so that the tourist spends as little time as possible – he said, referring to a sector of Embratur that aims to promote solutions for the tourism area”, said Freixo.

The Brazilian government’s justification for the measure was a lack of reciprocity, that is, the countries also suspended the visa requirement for Brazilians, which did not occur.

Federal deputy Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE), leader of the largest party bloc in the Chamber, presented an urgent request to vote on a project that reverses the presidential decision and releases the need for visas for the four countries – there is still no deadline for voting.