Roberto Alves de Lucena is a Brazilian author and politician, affiliated with the Republicans. Born in Santa Isabel (municipality of São Paulo), he served three phrases in São Paulo as a federal deputy.
Throughout this era, he additionally held the place of Secretary of State for Tourism of São Paulo, between 2015 and 2016, within the Alckmin authorities.
In an unique interview for the iGaming Brazil portal, the brand new Secretary of Tourism and Journey of the State of São Paulo explains in regards to the regulation of playing within the nation: “We will need to have the regulation broadly mentioned and accredited, in order that it may be regulated. Solely after this process will it’s potential to assign the duties”.
One in every of his options as Secretary of State was the creation of Vacationer Curiosity Cities (MITs), in addition to laying the groundwork for the Ten Yr Tourism Plan and Vacationer Districts. Within the Chamber of Deputies he was Secretary of Transparency and chaired the Everlasting Fee of Inspection and Monetary Management.
Watch the complete interview of the brand new SP Tourism Secretary
iGaming Brazil – Secretary, what would be the new challenges for the Secretary of Tourism and Journey of the State of São Paulo?
Robert de Lucena – One in every of our nice challenges is to extend connectivity between locations, put money into the infrastructure of vacationer municipalities with huge potential and promote all our range. This month, the São Paulo authorities renewed the decree that reduces the ICMS price from the present 13.3% to 12% on aviation gasoline, with the intention of accelerating air connectivity within the state. In Section 1 of the mission, greater than 700 new weekly flights have been added.
With the renewal of the decree there will likely be one other 150 new weekly flights till December/2024, along with sustaining the scheduled stopover program, encouraging passengers to remain related through SP for a minimum of in the future at no further price. The Tourism and Journey Secretariat can also be engaged on the creation of the Rural Tourism Plan to be delivered throughout the first 100 days of presidency. The target is to construction and promote tourism within the rural areas of the state, offering growth and producing employment and earnings. I also can say that we’ve a lot of municipalities with an enormous vacationer vocation in its most numerous segments, however they nonetheless lack construction, promotion and connectivity.
The state of São Paulo, for instance, has vacationer sights starting from the coast to gastronomy; from theme parks to gala’s and industrial actions, briefly, a collection of top quality sights that entice guests from SP, from different areas of the nation and from overseas. We’re investing in nautical tourism, with the supply shortly of 13 buildings to permit navigation by way of dams and rivers. To provide you an thought, there are 630 kilometers of shoreline, about 4,200 km of navigable rivers and greater than 50 reservoirs (lakes and dams). Now we have loads of work, a dedicated group and a united {industry}.
iGaming Brazil – What would be the first measures of your mandate within the Secretariat? Will there be consensus with different states or will it act alone when it comes to funding, incentives, legal guidelines and so forth.?
Robert de Lucena – We took over the federal government with a structured secretariat. We had a easy transition, with the technical group engaged, tourism municipalities mobilised, and we have been capable of rapidly align with the wants of the commerce and incorporate our authorities objectives. Now we have an preliminary 100-day plan, in addition to medium and long-term objectives. Tourism is a building, a transversal and dynamic platform, which makes us reassess our wants always and alter the flight plan. We’re assured that, with the partnership that’s strengthening with different authorities our bodies, with the assist of the inhabitants, academia and entrepreneurs, we are going to obtain extra and higher outcomes for all. Beginning with the assets of the Dadetur (Division of Assist for the Improvement of Vacationer Municipalities), utilized within the infrastructure of the Municipalities, which needs to be a report in 2023.
iGaming Brazil – Tourism has been one of many sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. How is that this market reacting after this era?
Robert de Lucena – 2022 was a yr of restoration. We’re already in a second of enlargement, as proven by the information from the Tourism Financial system Intelligence Heart (CIET), linked to Setur. The efficiency of tourism in São Paulo this yr would be the highest within the final 5 years. It’s estimated that the economic system of the sector will develop by 7.8% in 2023. With this, the GDP of tourism in São Paulo will attain 299.4 billion, highlighting the State of São Paulo as the biggest vacationer hub within the nation. The advance is especially as a consequence of home tourism.
45 million nationwide vacationers are anticipated, stimulated by three main actions: street tourism, inns and the bar and restaurant sector, 1 million extra vacationers than in 2019, the final yr earlier than the pandemic. Worldwide tourism may even totally get well from the losses because of the pandemic. In 2023, the State of São Paulo is anticipated to obtain 2.3 million international vacationers, up from 2.1 million in 2019. Due to this fact, SP will obtain 47.3 million guests in 2023, exceeding the 46.1 million recorded in 2019. Throughout this yr, the airports will register 77 million passengers, the biggest motion since 2019, which recorded 76 million passengers, contemplating home and worldwide flights to Congonhas, Guarulhos and Viracopos airports.
Occupancy in lodging amenities will attain 65.8% this yr, 2.3 proportion factors greater than in 2019; and the bar and restaurant sector is anticipated to develop 8% over 2022. The expansion of tourism brings main impacts on the state’s economic system. Business-related firms are anticipated to put up revenues of R$90.1 billion in 2023, spurring the creation of 60,000 new jobs in industry-related companies. A collection of efficient actions will likely be expanded and improved on this administration. Amongst these, a big promoting program for the state, SP pra Todos; and the creation of latest vacationer districts, to additional stimulate the sector. The initiatives are the results of the 20-30 strategic plan, created to information the decision-making technique of the Secretariat till 2030.
iGaming Brazil – What’s your opinion on the legalization of casinos in Brazil?
Robert de Lucena – I adopted all of the motion on the topic. The debates that adopted the fundamental textual content of invoice 442/91, accredited by the Chamber of Deputies, have been broadly debated. All of society, by way of elected deputies, had the chance to place points on the agenda and specific their arguments. Primarily based on dozens of contributions, we’re constructing a mannequin related to resorts, insurance coverage and tourism, with the potential to generate growth, jobs and earnings.
I consider that every one this lengthy technique of understanding has been essential for growing a theme that requires a really cautious and considered analysis. Solely then will we attain the consensus we search.
iGaming Brazil – How a lot might built-in on line casino resort installations contribute to SP tourism?
Robert de Lucena – By combining it with different vacationer amenities, based mostly on a safe mannequin, casinos can contribute to the diversification of tourism within the state, producing earnings, jobs and growth. São Paulo has the benefit of getting a large and structured lodge supply. The infrastructure of the state is essentially the most developed in the entire nation.
iGaming Brazil – Which cities (areas) might straight profit from on line casino regulation Resorts?
Robert de Lucena – Municipalities that have already got crops put in would have a bonus, as they have already got the infrastructure. Nonetheless, new investments might come up in nonetheless poorly structured locations, exactly to generate the specified growth.
iGaming Brazil – Do you consider that the demand for Brazil as a world vacationer vacation spot will enhance and home tourism may even profit?
Robert de Lucena – The potential exists, as there’s a very giant demand for casinos. However every little thing will rely upon the mannequin that Brazil adopts, the type of implementation and, above all, the rules.
iGaming Brazil – In relation to the approval and regulation of money playing operated by the personal sector, do the chief, legislative and judiciary of the State of São Paulo perceive what could be required to control and legalize these video games within the nation?
Robert de Lucena – The regulation must be broadly mentioned and accredited, to then be regulated. Solely after this process will it’s potential to assign roles.
