By Mary Carroll, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Survey results published on July 5th shows that retail sales in Rio de Janeiro increased by six percent during the Rio+20 Conference. The research was conducted by the Centre for the Study of Store Directors Club of Rio de Janeiro (CDL-Rio) in June.
The largest amount of items purchased during the event, by both Brazilians and foreigners, was clothes, accessories and swimwear.
The survey indicated that Africans spent the most during Rio+20, accounting for 34 percent of the total incremental sales. Latin Americans were responsible for 24 percent and Europeans were in third place with twenty percent.
Visitors from the United States recorded spending seventeen percent of the total during the conference and Asians spent the least amount of money with three percent.
Even with Rio+20 having faced international criticism for the lack of measurable results, Aldo Gonçalves, the President of the CDL-Rio, told O Globo. “It was a positive outcome from the point of view of the city and the awareness of the environmental problems by the population.”
He claims the Brazil has passed the test and it is now ready to host international events which are to be received in Brazil such as Confederations Cup in 2013, the World Cup in 2014, the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games in 2016.
Gonçalves admitted that transit was one of the main problems at Rio+20, however maintained “the overall view was positive.” In regard to trade, Gonçalves points out that the retail industry is taking measures to train sales staff “in preparation of the huge influx of tourists” with a special focus on sales techniques and customer care.
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