On June 25, 2019, 80+ companies, including travel agencies, airlines, media and tour operators attended a presentation and dinner on tourism in Bahia, Brazil held at the Consulate General of Brazil in New York. The presentation covered Bahia’s diverse offerings, with an emphasis on history, culture, popular festivals, music and gastronomy. The biggest news was the recent waiver of the Brazilian tourist visa requirement, effective June 17. Presenters included the Secretary of Tourism of Bahia, Fausto Franco, Eric Sanford of Copa Airlines and Leandro Aragonez, Market Manager and Gisele Lima, Director/Owner, Promo. Following the presentation, door prizes were drawn and two lucky attendees won a trip to Bahia (airline tickets + land tours). A buffet dinner of typical dishes of Bahia, such as acarajé, moqueca, bobó de camarão, was served, provided by New York City’s Beija Flor restaurant.
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Leandro Aragonez, Market Manager, Promo, reviewed the key highlights of Bahia and described the attractions of the most popular tourist destinations of Salvador, Chapada Diamantina, Itacaré & Ilhéus and Porto Seguro
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| Leandro Aragonez, Market Manager, Promo, Gisele Lima, Director/Owner, Promo, Secretary of Tourism of Bahia, Fausto Franco (l to r) | Minister Fernando de Oliveira Sena – Deputy Consul General; Secretary of Tourism of Bahia, Fausto Franco, Ambassador Enio Cordeiro – Consul General (l to r) |
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| Eric Sanford, Account Manager, Copa Airlines (l) and Secretary of Tourism of Bahia, Fausto Franco (r) | Minister Fernando de Oliveira Sena – Deputy Consul General spoke about the new decree by the Brazilian Government that Americans as well as Australians, Canadians and Japanese no longer need a visa to enter Brazil, effective June 17, 2019. With the waiver of the visa requirement, tourism is expected to double, he said |
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| Eric Sanford, Account Manager, Copa Airlines reviewed the airline’s flights to Salvador via Panama departing from Boston, Chicago, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New Orleans, Orlando, San Francisco, Tampa, and Washington Dulle | |
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| Gisele Lima, Director/Owner, Promo congratulates the winner of the drawing of a trip to Bahia | Eric Sanford and Nisrine Elouggouti – Account Managers of Copa Airlines pose with hostesses in typical Bahian dresses |
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