Felipe Gonzalez, Secretary of Tourism, Foz, Iguazu, Brazil

Felipe Gonzalez, Secretary of Tourism, Foz, Iguazu, Brazil
By Jose Carlos de Santiago

The famous Iguazu Falls, nestled amid Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, have been recently declared one of the seven new natural wonders of the world, just like another portent that shared by some South American countries: the Amazonia River and its tropical rainforest. A popular travel destination for several years, Iguazu has made headway in terms of air connectivity and hotel capacity in its triple border, as well as the promotion of its product.

What has the declaration of Iguazu Falls as one of the seven new natural wonders of the world meant to you?
We have an important mission: to carry on this work along with Argentina, as both of us make up the Vote Cataratas committee, within the contest to select the seven wonders. From now on, we are in charge of boosting the positive results of this long campaign, it took more than three years and included several stages during which the eyes of the world were focused on the Falls. Undoubtedly, it has had a significant influence in the flow of tourists to the destination.

As for the work you are planning to carry out with Argentinean province of … You are two different countries, dissimilar interests… How do you think to make them compatibles?
We count on the privilege of sharing a tri-national region, including Paraguay that operates, along with Brazil, the biggest hydroelectric power station of the planet, Itaipu. From Brazil, we are marketing Iguazuas international destination, where beauties, infrastructure and attractions become multiplied within the frontiers.

We have three airports operating the destination and that must be maximized. We are already working Iguazuas an international destination, including Iguazu Port, Misiones, Argentina on one side, and Ciudad del Este, Alto Parana, Paraguay, and Foz do Iguaçu, Parana, Brazil on the other side.

The connectivity is presently one of the main problems when it comes to visiting Iguazu. You, out of the three countries, are in the best position. Are you going to increase the number of flights to Iguazu?
We are currently witnessing a strong growth on the Brazilian side. Brazilis a continent country, which welcomes 25 daily flights from different spots of the nation to Foz do Iguaçu, and we are also receiving, via Lima, flights from the Pacific and the North American East coast, as well as flights from Montevideo, Santiago de Chile and Asuncion.

As for the Argentinean side, in Port Iguazu there some 15 daily flights operated by LAN and Austral, which connect with the capital, Buenos Aires, the Argentinean hub for inner destinations y, in our case, it represents an access way from the South Atlantic that is very important for Iguazu region, while Asuncion gains momentum as a significant entry door, with new South American flights on airlines such as Gol, TACA, Aerosur, Pluna.

So, an important radio of air access is growing in the region, and airlines are landing in the destination.

How do you join the Waterfalls through the frontiers so tourists can totally visit them?
We sell the Waterfalls as an integral destination, including visits on the Brazilian and Argentinean sides. Likewise, we carry out joint actions in different markets, especially in Brazil, which is a continental market and has the possibility of significantly growing, beyond present figures, considering that almost the 68% of people visiting the National Park do Iguaçu are Brazilians. As for the Argentinean side, Brazilians represent the 15%.

Is there any promotion project for international markets in which the three countries have only one stand to promote Iguazu?
We are presently working on that, after “Vote Cataratas”. That’s one of the extraordinary results brought about by that campaign for the destination and our countries, which are happy to share this natural park, the river and this wonder of nature represented by Iguazu Falls.

There is some international economic support for tourism promotion and development. The European Union, for example, is providing support for Latin America, as well as Spain’s Agency for Development and Cooperation. Have you showed your projects to these organizations?
We’re mainly working within Brazil, with Prodetur, the Program for Tourism Development of Brazil’s South region, made up of States like Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul. At the same time, this is all linked to programs of the Interamerican Bank of Development (BID). We are carrying out actions in the Iguazu area, through theIguazu Fund, an organization created in order to obtain resources. Those convincing actions at international level, as you say, must be channeled through our ministries, bilateral and trilateral agreements, etc…

The 2016 Olympics are relatively close in time. Iguazu project must go through a period of presentation and maturation until that year. Are there any plans or programs created to strengthen the transportation of tourists to that region?
Yes, just like the 2014 Football World Cup. We have already worked the destination as a base field, displaying shows and, if it’s possible, bringing a team to train and stay there during the Cup. At the same time, we’re working, through the Municipal Council of Tourism,on the actions planned in terms of tourists flow during the Cup and the Olympics.

FITUR is the upcoming largest world event on tourism. As Earth’s second most important fair, and the first one for Latin American destinations in terms of foreign markets, could it be the first event for Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to jointly promote Iguazu?
There is no doubt about it. We are going to put that proposal on the table with our partners in Iguazu’s tri-national region. I think that counting on a joint stand in FITUR is a great idea, and I think that we really have to work in this kind of actions so as to shed light on this geographical region of South America, particularly now after the declaration of natural wonder.

Does the Brazilian administration presently count on some budget in order to support this world wonder?
We know nothing about the existence of specific funds, but we are dealing with our members of the Parliament to take the proposal to the federal government.

Is the Brazilian hotel structure going grow up in Iguazuand around the Falls?
We are currently operating 20 thousand beds in Foz do Iguaçu, in the Brazilian side, some six thousand in the Argentinean side and the same goes for the Paraguayan region. The Brazilian side will be operating two thousand additional beds starting the next year. During the last four years, we have received almost 300 millionreales in terms of private investment in the inbound area, gastronomy and, mainly, hotels, for new acquisitions, constructions or reforms…

What foreign groups have invested in Iguazu or are planning to do it?
We already have Orient Express, with Hotel das Cataratas… And we count on local groups.

Do you know if Grupo Pestana is going to invest?
We have consultations with Grupo Pestana, but there is no definition yet.

Barceló?
Just consultations.

Is there any American group interested?
We know nothing about it so far.