RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro announced this Friday, August 2nd, that biologist and TV presenter Richard Rasmussen would be the new ambassador for tourism in Brazil. Bolsonaro announced the decision on his official Twitter account.
“Richard Rasmussen, with great honor, is the Ambassador of Tourism in Brazil,” said Bolsonaro.
In the video presentation, Rasmussen said he wishes to help the country and Embratur, a part of the Ministry of Tourism, to “strengthen ecotourism beyond the Brazilian core,” referring to locations such as tropical forests and the Pantanal.
“When we bring in tourists looking for natural experiences, we are helping to supervise our natural areas better, we are helping to raise income and training for regions that usually lack economic funds,” said the biologist.
Rasmussen has a degree in biology and economics. He has acted as a TV presenter on RecordTV, SBT, and National Geographic, and has a YouTube channel. He has traveled the world, exploring forests and wild animals.
According to a report by radio station Jovem Pan, the biologist was accused in 2017 of engaging in the killing of a pink river dolphin in order to obtain footage for a TV story. He reportedly confirmed that he had taken part in the recording, but denied having paid the fishermen to kill the dolphin.