Tourism advances in Rio, but security is a challenge - Valor International

The systematic organization of an integrated calendar of events boosted tourism in Rio de Janeiro at the beginning of 2026, but security issues can still be improved in the state to allow tourism industry to continue on a growth trajectory, according to tourism and security experts who participated in the Seminário Turismo RJ – Mais Segurança e Novos Roteiros, promoted by Editora Globo with the support of the state government on Wednesday (25).

At the event, the former secretary of tourism of the state of Rio de Janeiro and state deputy Gustavo Tutuca reported that the state received around 600,000 international tourists in the first two months of the year, 20% more than in the same period in 2025.

The result, according to him, was helped by the intense schedule of events at the beginning of the year: “Much of the success we are reaping is [the result of] integrated actions of the events calendar, [such as] New Year’s Eve, street Carnival, Sapucaí Carnival.”

For Tutuca, organizing a calendar of events that attract tourists sequentially ensures that the state remains on the tourism agenda as a vacation destination option.

“We broke the record for foreign tourism last year,” he added. According to the Brazilian Tourism Promotion Agency (Embratur), Brazil broke a record in 2025, receiving 9.3 million international visitors, a 37.1% increase compared with 2024. “And Rio helped boost tourism in Brazil,” said Tutuca, who stepped down from the secretariat last week.

He also noted that the organization of the events calendar is not limited to the state capital. Many tourists have the option of attending events in other parts of the state that are also aligned, so that those who come to visit Rio can make the most of the attractions across the state.

But Tutuca made a reservation: security issues are still a challenge to be overcome in order to boost Rio’s tourism industry. “What I’ve noticed in five years promoting Rio de Janeiro is that news about crime problems, about organized crime, is what prevents tourists from coming here,” said the former secretary. “They are a bottleneck. This is our challenge to increase our record numbers [of tourist arrivals in Rio].”

Much has already been done in this regard to improve the state’s public security, mainly with the help of new technologies, said Major Agdan Fernandes, director of infrastructure and technologies at the Integrated Command and Control Center of the Military Police, who was also present at the event. He commented that much is said about the advancement of body camera use in the police force in Rio. However, little emphasis is placed on the importance that the new equipment has gained in terms of management. “[With cameras] I see where each police officer is. If there is an incident in Copacabana, for example, I can see which [police officer] is closest and call him.”

Commissioner Patrícia Alemany, head of the Special Police Station for Tourism Support (DEAT), said that much progress has been made on security at large events in Rio. She cited decisions regarding police searches for beach access in cases of large events or shows on the waterfront. These are also carried out in special operations by public security forces in specific locations and times—such as sunny days at the beach on weekends.

One aspect that helps in terms of security and efficiency at large events is the prior licensing of these events with the public authorities, added Pedro Augusto Guimarães, CEO of Apresenta Rio, an association of event promoters and producers. With licensing, the organization of security, in and around the event, can be evaluated by security agencies.

Also present at the seminar, the president of the Rio de Janeiro State Tourism Company (TurisRio), Sergio Ricardo de Almeida, reiterated the state’s goal of receiving 2.5 million foreign tourists this year. If the target is met, it would represent growth of around 15% compared with 2025. In 2025, the number of international tourists was 44% higher than in 2024, the state government previously reported.

At the event, Almeida also advocated the creation and consolidation of more “tourism products,” such as specific cultural and gastronomic routes inspired by the history of the state.

This article was translated from Valor Econômico using an artificial intelligence tool under the supervision of the Valor International editorial team to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to our editorial standards. Read our Editorial Principles.