Brazil: Nautical tourism receives a package of actions for development

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday, March 8, Brazil’s Federal Government launched a package of measures to develop and promote nautical tourism locally. These actions include tax exemption, professional training and recognition, credit offer, improvement of nautical infrastructure, and promotion through advertising campaigns and a website with information about the sector. The expectation is that the incentives will allow more Brazilians and foreigners to perform the activity in the country, which has been growing exponentially in recent years.

According to the Minister of Tourism, Gilson Machado Neto, the improvements proposed by the Federal Government will leverage the Brazilian nautical potential. They will meet the old demands of the entire segment. “We have one of the largest coastlines in the world and thousands of kilometers of rivers and lakes. We have the greatest potential globally, but we need to convert it into more for tourism and income for the nearly 100,000 Brazilians who make their living from these activities,” said the minister.

Among the tax benefits, the Ministry of Tourism (MTur) won the inclusion of sailing boats in the List of Exceptions to the Mercosur Common External Tariff (LETEC). The measure ensures federal tax exemption for those interested in importing sailboats – sportspeople and tourism entrepreneurs who use their vessels as an economic asset. In addition, it guaranteed the authorization to import sailing boats, water motorcycles, and jet-skis up to 30 years old, and finally, ended the 18% tax for those interested in importing jet-skis.

In the professional field, the folder announced a historic achievement for the sector: recognizing the activity of nautical tourism conductors as a profession by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The measure benefits about 100,000 Brazilians who work in this activity from the north to the south of the country. Another action announced was promoting a course for these professionals in partnership with the Brazilian Navy. The expectation is that the training will occur starting in July of this year. All those who complete the course will receive a certificate issued by both federal agencies.

The package of actions also includes a technical cooperation agreement with the Caixa Econômica Federal to conduct a market study to offer credit to those who wish to implement infrastructure and equipment to support nautical tourism activities. The measure will be valid for 60 months and will be directed to the activities of sport and recreation, fishing, and diving tourism, nationwide.

The Ministry of Tourism also contemplated the nautical infrastructure. The portfolio will develop and donate eight proposals created and donated by MTur to construct ramps, piers, and public marinas.

“When I see today the willpower of this government to change, with a package of measures that makes all the difference for the nautical development of this country. I think this attitude will change a lot because it is not just dealing with a segment, but the generation of opportunities for thousands of jobs that today work in informality,” commented the sailor Lars Grael, who also attended the event.

The activity is characterized by contact with water, whether salty or fresh and is linked to navigation, the practice of water sports, or other activities carried out in the water.

With about 8,500 kilometers of coastline, 35,000 kilometers of navigable rivers and canals, and another 9,260 kilometers of shores of freshwater reservoirs, lakes, and ponds, Brazil has one of the greatest potentials for the development of nautical tourism in the world.

The country’s last cruise ship season had eight ships on the Brazilian coast, one more than in the previous season. The impacts on the economy and job generation benefited tourist destinations and companies of activities characteristic of the tourism sector and other branches, moving R$2.2 billion.