Brazil

Brazil

2014 FIFA WORLD CUP: SALVADOR

ARENA FONTE NOVA WILL BRING 56,000 SOCCER FANS TOGETHER

The city expects to receive 70,000 tourists during the World Cup 2014. Around US$43 million will be invested in infrastructure by Bahia’s Secretary of Tourism (Setur BA) in the Bay of all Saints area.

Salvador’s privileged topography brings a clear division between the Cidade Baixa and Cidade Alta (Low City and High City), but they are interconnected through one of the city’s most notable landmarks, the Elevador Lacerda. Still, the ultimate symbol of Salvador is the Pelourinho, a historical centre with churches and colourful colonial buildings that was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

Setur BA is investing in training local guides not only in the capital, but also in other cities in the State. The Secretary of Tourism, Domingos Leonelli, says that the main legacy of the event will be the “human capital”. “The training of the tourism sector will open the doors for economic integration. By 2014 our goal is to have 5,000 workers trained in time for the Pronatec Cup in Bahia”, said Mr. Leonelli.

Another project will involve the training of 600 professionals in languages including English, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Italian, German, French, Croatian, beside Brazilian Sign Language. Setur and Bahiatursa are training hosts to work in Porto Seguro (and waterfront locations Arraial D’Ajuda, Trancoso and Caraiva) and the Mata of St. John ( Praia do Forte and Imbassai), to welcome tourists.

Arena Fonte Nova

The Arena Fonte Nova (which replaces the former Fonte Nova Stadium) is a newly built, multipurpose stadium with a capacity of 56,000. Operating as a public-private joint venture, the complex will also house a panoramic restaurant, a football museum, car parks, shops, hotels and a concert hall.

Budgeted in at US$300 million, the arena will host three games during the Confederations Cup (including the classic soccer match Brazil X Italy in June) as well as six other matches in the 2014 World Cup.

Bahia’s ‘welcoming squad’ will not only be on the streets, but also available via call center (Dial Tourism Bahia), working 24 hours a day and offering customer service in 12 languages, as well via online chat at www.bahia.com.br. Another initiative is the construction of a World Cup Training Center in Praia do Forte, located 56 km away from Salvador International Airport. At the Airport Luis Eduardo Magalhaes two projects are underway: renovations to control towers, and expansions to accommodate greater airplane traffic.

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