A night in Brazil with Goway

Goway showcased the many sides of travel in Brazil to agents this week, during the third stop on the ‘It’s All Here’ roadshow, highlighting the tourism draws of the South American country.

The show has travelled across eastern Canada this week with stops in Halifax, Ottawa and Toronto, with a presentation breaking down the country’s many tourism opportunities by region, from the beaches and nightlife of Rio de Janeiro to the depths of the Amazon rainforest. A Western Canada leg follows next week, stopping in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Victoria. Goway’s representatives were also joined by Ney Ottoni of Embratur and Smriti Dalvie of LATAM Airlines.

According to Don Forster, Goway’s product & marketing manager for Latin America, while Ecuador and Peru have traditionally been the top sellers in Goway’s Latin America portfolio (due largely to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu, respectively), the company has seen a recent spike in demand for Brazil, following events such as the 2013 World Youth Day and last summer’s World Cup and preceding the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Of Goway’s Brazil packages, Forster said that the Classical Latino has been a top choice for Canadian travellers. The package offers pre- and post- travel opportunities for cruise passengers in either Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, Argentina, featuring a journey to the famed Iguassu Falls which is bordered by both countries. Forster explained that passengers departing their ship in either city can meet up with the cruise after a trip to the falls.

Forster said that another top priority for the company is a package to the Pantanal tropical reserve, for travellers seeking a glimpse of South American wildlife while experiencing five-star service, including features such as a personal concierge and transportation via Mercedes vehicles.

More about Brazil

- Travel to Brazil requires a visa, which Canadians can obtain within a week for $135. For travellers heading to Iguassu who will be accessing the Argentinian side of the falls, Forster said that a reciprocity tax must be paid online beforehand.

- Forster says that travellers looking to take in New Year’s Eve in Rio or Carnaval should book six months in advance and that during Carnaval, travellers can expect prices in Rio to increase by as much as 30 per cent. For those travellers planning to attend Carnaval, Goway offers packages with admission to the Sambadrome where the event is held – and can even get travellers into the parade itself, costume included.

- While many travellers are likely planning a journey to Brazil to coincide with the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Forster said that Goway is still awaiting information on rates, likely to be made available in June or July.

PHOTO: Ney Ottoni, account manager –North America, Embratur; Smriti Dalvie, area sales manager – central region – LATAM Airlines Group; Sam Cottar, BDM, Eastern Canada, Goway; Don Forster, product & marketing manager – Latin America, Goway; Ben Stasiuk, GM, Latin America wholesale, Goway.