Since the Bahia Convention Center (CCB) interrupted its activities, Salvador has dropped from third to tenth in the ranking of Brazilian cities hosting international events accredited by Icca (International Council for Commercial Arbitration). This was revealed by the Secretary of Culture and Tourism (Secult), Claudio Tinoco.

“In 2011 there were 29 large international events hosted here. Already last year, that number dropped to five. We were behind only São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but we were already overtaken by cities like Florianópolis, Fortaleza and Foz do Iguaçu, “said the secretary in an interview with CORREIO.

A day after thieves were spotted – and released – by the police, in possession of air conditioners, CORREIO witnessed a series of looting this morning (21) and showed how easy it is to enter the equipment – which partially collapsed in September last year.

The president of the Baiano Council of Tourism, Roberto Duran, says that congress tourism is what gives support to the sector. “This is the tourism that moves the production chain from March to December. Leisure tourism is responsible for the peak period, but it is only three months. The congresses are that they actually handle the whole segment, “he said.

According to Duran, immediately after the closure of the CCB, Salvador lost nine major congresses that were already scheduled. Since then, about R $ 200 million per year have ceased to be collected. “As the construction of a new Convention Center will not be in the next three years, the total negative impact should be R $ 1.5 billion,” Duran estimated.

According to him, in the last two years, 20 hotels and around 3,000 bars and restaurants have closed their doors in the capital, which has led to the closing of around 30,000 jobs. For Duran, the crisis that the sector lives would be less if the CCB were functioning.

Photo: Reproduction

Source: Panrotas