"It's time to create new products and services to increase the number of foreign visitors and generate more jobs, creating a safe legal framework for investors and with strict rules for the performance of inspection and control bodies," said Irajá in the post when estimating investments of R$ 44 billion (US$ 8.2bln) and the creation of 200,000 jobs his project is enacted into law.
According to the senator's initiative, integrated resorts are defined as "tourism complexes with casino operation that combine hotel facilities, convention center, spaces for fairs, exhibitions, corporate events, congresses and seminars, incentive meetings, ecumenical centers , in addition to different entertainment and convenience options offered to the visitor, such as restaurants, bars, spas, shopping centers, art galleries, museums, theaters, golf courses, theme parks, water parks and other options."
The text provides that the physical space occupied by the casino must correspond to a maximum of 10% of the total area of the integrated resort. It also establishes the exclusive competence of the Union to grant, regulate and supervise the activities of resorts integrated with casinos.
The senator justified his project citing the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism, which aggravated factors such as low international visitation, lack of investment and few resources for marketing campaigns. For him, the integrated resorts constitute "an opportunity to change the level of international visitation to the country" and increase Brazil's participation in the international market of fairs and events.
The proposal was the subject of a public hearing of the Economic Affairs Commission (CAE) held on December 9, 2021. The debate contributed to provide input to Senator Veneziano Vital do Rêgo (MDB-PB), who is the rapporteur of the matter and requester of the debate, to elaborate its opinion on the project. On the occasion, experts heard by CAE suggested specific improvements in the text, but agreed that the release of gaming in resorts could provide ways to face the economic crisis of tourism and increase Brazil's competitiveness in the sector.
Source: Agência Senado
