Brazil’s government will allow 100 percent foreign-investor stakes in domestic airlines and intends to streamline visa issuance for citizens of four countries, including the United States, Tourism Minister Marx Beltrão said Tuesday. Beltrão announced a package of measures designed to boost revenues and jobs for the tourism industry. He said Brazilian President Michel Temer will sign an executive order later Tuesday allowing for 100 percent ownership of domestic airlines by foreign investors, up from the long-standing limit of 20 percent. The measure is still subject to congressional review. He said the administration will coordinate with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry in an effort to implement so-called electronic visa issuance by the end of 2017. The system would allow citizens of four countries to obtain travel visas to Brazil within 48 hours via an internet website, eliminating inconvenient visits to Brazilian consulates. The four countries are the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan. Tuesday’s package also includes rule changes that will open state-run tourism authority Embratur to private investor participation. The government will also boost training programs for travel industry workers and advertising.
Link to Tourism Ministry release
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