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Brazil
Relevant information about Brazil.
Brazil is one of the countries that more tourists receive. Since 1995, tourism became a strategic activity undertaken by the Brazilian Federal Government. The main goal was to achieve the practice of tourism as a way to promote preservation and cultural heritage of the country. As a reaction to this State policy, in 2007, Brazil received near 18 million tourist, lots more than the one and a half million that received in 1992. Another main factor that helped to develop Brazilian tourism was improvements in the air transport system. Brazilian carnival is worldwide famous. So they are the paradisiacal beaches and the wild natural Amazonia jungle. A devaluated local currency also helps to attract tourists.
Brazil´s population reached 191,480,630 inhabitants in 2009. The distribution of the population is very uneven. Main concentration of the population occurs in the coastal areas, northeast and southern east and southern states; north and northwest regions are less populated. Brazilian birth rates were high and correspond to developing countries rates. However, recent rates show significant decrease. This can be explained by the increase in urban population and the dissemination of birth control. The total fertility rate, in 2008, was 1.89 children per woman and the life expectancy of 73 years. Most Brazilians descend from the country's indigenous peoples, Portuguese settlers, and African slaves. About five million people from over 60 countries migrated to Brazil between 1808 and 1972, most of them from Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan and the Middle-East. According to the 2000 census, Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world: 130 million followers, 73% of the population. 15% declared themselves as Protestants, 1.3% Spiritualism and 7.4% no religion. Portuguese is the official language and it´s talked almost by every Brazilian. There also exist 140 Indian languages. Brazil is an eminent multicultural country, mostly marked by diverse migratory flows that intensely mixed one with each other. Rio de Janeiro it’s an important cultural center. It is also famous for its museums and the local carnival. São Paulo is the largest cultural center in South America, with an event occurring every two minutes (in average). The popular music of Brazil is globally known, with a great variety of forms and styles such as samba, bossa-nova, choro, axe, lambada, forró, sertaneja, etc. Brazil's cinema is one of the most developed in Latin America. Many movies were made in co-productions with companies and artists from other countries, and they have a substantial domestic market as well as films that have won international recognition. The Brazilian national football team is worldwide recognized. They have won 5 FIFA World Cups and 8 Copas America. Brazilian football players are scattered all over the world. Brazil has won 8 international championships in Formula One. Between their drivers they highlight Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa. The São Paulo circuit, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, hosts the annual Grand Prix of Brazil. Another sport that matters in Brazil is basketball. The basketball team Brazil was world champion in two consecutive occasions and has achieved three bronze medals at the Olympics.
Brazil is the largest national economy in Latin America, the world's tenth largest economy at market exchange rates and the ninth largest in purchasing power parity (PPP), according to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The Brazilian economy has been predicted to become one of the five largest in the world in the decades to come. The economy of Brazil leads Latin America in various economic sectors such as industry, agriculture and exports. It is also a member of BRIMCs (Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico and China). Brazil is rich in mining, like diamonds, gold, iron, magnesium, nickel, phosphorus, silver, uranium. They also produce the 80% of the oil they consume. Brazil pegged its currency, the Real, to the U.S. dollar in 1994. However, after a series of adverse financial events that followed, in 1999 the Central Bank definitively changed to a free-float exchange regime.
Best places to visit includes: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasilia (declared Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1987), the Christ the Redeemer, Itaipu Dam (the world's largest hydroelectric plant), Ipanema anda Copacabana, Joaquina and Praia do Forte beaches, Fernando de Noronha islands, the Amazon Rainforest, Maracana Stadium (third largest in the world), Jesuit-Guarani ruins of Sao Miguel das Missões, National Park Sierra de la Capivara, Santa Catarina, Fortaleza, Salvador de Bahía.
Brazil is a world reference in what refers to: plastic surgery, surgery for weight reduction, dental treatment, orthopedics, dermatology, hair graft and in many other specialties. Traveling to Brazil looking for health treatments with quality affordable prices is a great option because its large and diversified territory provides outstanding season of endless possibilities for fun, relaxation and culture while health care.
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