Flaminia Mantegazza, born in Rio de Janeiro, is a key figure at the Embassy of Brazil in Rome, where she has been working for years in the field of cultural and tourism promotion. The Embassy, in collaboration with Embratur—the Brazilian Agency for the International Promotion of Tourism—is engaged in a strategic effort to strengthen tourism relations between Brazil and Italy, by showcasing the country’s immense natural, cultural, and human heritage. Among the priorities: the promotion of emerging destinations, the consolidation of air routes, training for travel professionals, and continuous dialogue with Italian travel agencies and tour operators. This interview is part of that strategy and aims to present concrete tools, up-to-date data, and development prospects for Brazilian tourism in 2025.
I am Flaminia Mantegazza
and I would like to present the initiatives of the Brazilian Embassy in collaboration with Embratur, the Brazilian Tourism Board, and our co-exhibitors. Beside me, the representative from the State of Minas Gerais will provide further details on that territory. We are also joined by two airlines—LATAM and TAP—and two DMCs, Pergaso and Delbianco, actively promoting Brazil. So we welcome all those following this interview—we’re here at your disposal.
Among the key initiatives this year to strengthen collaboration with travel agents and tour operators is the “Brazil Specialist” program. It is a project aimed at promoting Brazil’s lesser-known destinations in the Italian market. The goal of this training and support program is part of a broader strategy shared between the Embassy and the tourism board to increase the number of international tourists to Brazil, especially from Italy. We have launched several initiatives because, although Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, made up of 27 states and with a land area far greater than Italy, it remains relatively unknown. Even well-known destinations like Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, or Salvador still have hidden corners that we want to highlight.
Brazil is an immense country
A country that offers travel experiences, culture, adventure, hospitality, and cuisine—all under the banner of sustainability. New emerging destinations are spread across the national territory. As a nation rich in nature and culture, and with a relaxed and welcoming lifestyle, Brazil offers a fully sensory experience: olfactory, gastronomic, and deeply rejuvenating. Music, the environment, and nature play leading roles. Even our stand is inspired by the Amazon—a space evoking a place far from city noise, inviting well-being and connection with nature.
More Connected, to Nature and the World
To facilitate the arrival of more tourists from Europe, one of the key strategies of the 2023–2027 tourism plan is to enhance air connectivity, especially between Italy and Brazil. LATAM, for example, will soon increase its flight frequencies from Rome. In addition to São Paulo, Rio, and Milan, the airline connects many other Brazilian and Latin American cities.
TAP, on the other hand, serves as many as thirteen Brazilian capitals, offering the possibility of arriving in one city and departing from another. Recently, two new destinations have been inaugurated: Manaus, in the Amazon, and Florianópolis.
Tourism in Brazil is rapidly growing
In 2023, we welcomed 129,000 Italian tourists. In 2024, that number rose to 154,000, far exceeding the 8% growth target set in the strategic plan—we reached nearly 15%. The figures for January and February 2025 are even more encouraging: compared to the same period in 2024, there was a 60% increase in Italian visitors. This gives us strong reason to believe that 2025 will be a record year—also thanks to your collaboration.
The invitation is open: Brazil is waiting for you. With its variety of landscapes, cultures, and lifestyles, the country is today one of the most stimulating and authentic destinations for Italian travelers. The Brazilian Embassy in Rome is available to provide information, materials, and support to all travel agencies and tour operators interested in expanding their offering on Brazil. You can contact us by email—we’ll be happy to collaborate in building new routes, experiences, and lasting relationships.
Welcome to Brazil.
Minas Gerais, Land of Freedom and Authentic Beauty
Among the most fascinating and culturally rich regions of Brazil, Minas Gerais stands out for its deep connection to the country’s history, vibrant traditions, and ever-evolving tourism offering. The cradle of the Brazilian concept of liberty, it is today a model for experiences focused on sustainability, art, and gastronomy. We spoke with Tiago Ferreira, representative of the state, who guided us through a passionate and engaging narrative.
I am Tiago Ferreira, from Minas Gerais.
The experience of traveling through this region can be summed up in one word: freedom, as we like to say. It was right here in Minas Gerais that the very idea of liberty in Brazil took shape. The first people to conceive and promote this concept came from here.
This broader sense of freedom is what we believe tourists can truly feel when they experience Minas Gerais. Whether it’s the hospitality, the sense of security, or the variety of things to do, ours is a land rich in culture and tradition, with roots dating back to the 18th century.
Today, we are also home to the world’s largest open-air contemporary art museum—Inhotim—a place where history, artistic innovation, technology, and nature converge. Minas Gerais is a leader in green tourism and environmental sustainability promotion.
A Complete Destination
Minas Gerais offers extraordinary natural landscapes, crystal-clear waterways, a vibrant and rooted culture, and a gastronomy considered among the finest in Brazil. But what truly stands out is the authenticity of its hospitality—those who arrive here truly feel at home.
I hope that, hearing these words, you feel inspired to discover Minas Gerais.
It’s a place that will make you feel welcome from the very first moment.
I truly believe that Italy and Brazil share many things in common—and Minas Gerais in particular: our love for food, for conviviality, and for living life in its fullest sense.
We look forward to welcoming you and letting you discover the beauty of this land with your own eyes.
The Inhotim Museum in Brumadinho
A symbol of the dialogue between tradition and modernity that defines Minas Gerais. More than a museum, it is the world’s largest open-air contemporary art space, set within a botanical garden that hosts over 4,000 plant species across 140 hectares.
Located in Brumadinho, about 60 kilometers from Belo Horizonte, it is an essential stop for those wishing to understand the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental vocation of the state.
Its immersive, multisensory experience brings together the works of Brazilian and international artists—such as Yayoi Kusama, Cildo Meireles, and Olafur Eliasson—with a lush natural setting, helping to position Minas Gerais as one of the most innovative regions in Brazil’s cultural and sustainable tourism scene. In this sense, Inhotim perfectly embodies the spirit described in the interview: a place where historical memory meets creative experimentation and sustainability becomes a shared value.
