Tourism in the city of São Paulo
Tourist aspects in the city of São Paulo, Brazil / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tourism in the city of São Paulo stands out more for its business tourism than recreational tourism. However, cultural tourism is also important for the city, especially due to the several international events that take place in the region, such as the Art Biennial, the International Film Festival and the different performances with foreign celebrities that normally only happen on the Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo axis. The city has an average of one event every six minutes and between 410 and 550 hotels, offering visitors a total of between 42,000 and 50,000 rooms.[1][2][3]
Despite its economic vitality, tourism is still a sector that exposes the severe socio-economic inequalities present in the place, given that, according to critics and scholars, a large part of São Paulo's cultural and tourist circuit excludes the city's own population from enjoying it, since it is located in the central metropolitan region.[4][5]
In 2010, tourism in São Paulo reached a new record, receiving 11.7 million visitors. In 2012, there were 12.9 million tourists during the year, of which 10.8 million were domestic (Brazilian) and 2.1 million foreign, who spent R$10.2 billion in the city, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Of the domestic tourists, 25% are from São Paulo, followed by those from Minas Gerais. Among foreign tourists, North Americans and Argentinians visit the city the most.[6]
In 2016, in order to simplify tourist visits to São Paulo, the Circular Turismo SP, a double-decker tourist bus that travels around the city's main landmarks (Municipal Market, República, Pacaembu, MASP, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Cultural Center, Pátio do Colégio and Municipal Theatre), was implemented in the city, guaranteeing passenger comfort and safety. At a cost of 40 reais, visitors can board and disembark unlimited times along the route and receive information about the history, architecture and culture of São Paulo.[7]