TORONTO — Supporters of Brazil gathered last night to launch the Discover Brazil Committee in Canada, a group put together by EMBRATUR and the Consulate of Brazil in Toronto. They celebrated the culture, sun, adventure and natural beauty of Brazil, as well as the favourable exchange rate and recently relaxed visa requirements for Canadians.

“We are here to launch the committee and we will meet as often as necessary and collect all good ideas, so that we can answer the expectations of Canadian tourists when they come to Brazil,” said Consul General, José Vicente de Sa Pimentel.

Brazil typically welcomes 60,000 to 70,000 Canadians per year but this number increased to 80,000 in 2014, which got a tourism boost thanks to the FIFA World Cup. Canadians are expected to be eager to attend the next big sporting event in Brazil: the Rio 2016 Olympics this coming summer.

Brazil is an increasingly attractive destination for 2016 as the currency, the Brazilian Real, has slumped on the back of weak commodity prices and an economic downturn. The destination got about 20% cheaper for Canadians over the past year, while for travellers with U.S. dollars, the exchange rate is over 40% more favourable.

Brazil is also about to finalize 90-day visa exemptions for Canadian travellers in a bid to boost tourism for the 2016 Olympic Games. The relaxed requirements are for travellers who wish to visit the country for 90 days or less between March and September.

But Brazil has more to offer than the Olympics. Clients can enjoy an eco adventure by flying into Manaus in the Northern region, the gateway to the Amazon, or soak up the sun and culture of the coastal regional around the city of Salvador, the soul of Brazil. Or head to Rio for some sexy and sophisticated culture, beaches and one of the world’s most stunning settings for a city.