São Paulo Turismo

M y
t h s t o b e b u s t e d
Resistance? Still?
Some facts or myths about São Paulo may be cited as reasons not to hold events or bring groups to the city. Obviously, like
any big city, São Paulo has problems. But not one of them can stop the visitor from making the most of what the city has to
offer. Here are a few arguments to help overcome the myths.
Is the city polluted?
Pollution is actually a big problem for residents of large cities.
But not for visitors. Has any tourist ever not gone to New York,
Cairo or Santiago, which are among the most polluted cities in
the world, because of the condition of their air? Besides this, if
you’re worried about your health, São Paulo is the ideal place,
because it’s the largest medical center in Latin America, with
hospital complexes and internationally renowned professionals.
Shouldn’t major cities have beaches?
For those who think that being a major destination for
incentives, leisure and entertainment means there have to
be beaches, remember that Paris and Milan don’t have any.
The best in the world of art and performances is found in the
paulista capital. Shows with major international and national
musical names, a variety of plays and acclaimed films. The
city houses 257 movie theaters, 152 theaters, 39 cultural
centers and 87 museum.
Do you think it’s a “hard” city?
São Paulo today is a city that seduces more and more the
imagination of those who visit it. The occupancy levels of its hotels
has surpassed 65% per year – an historic mark. It has been
confirmed that culture is a major value to be added to business
tourism. It’s not by chance that the paulista capital has become
the 3rd main leisure destination in the country, according to the
Institute of Economic Research Foundation (FIPE). Besides this,
research done by Reader’s Digest Selections in 2006 of visitors
to 35 major cities in the world and published in the British newspaper
The Times, considered São Paulo the most courteous city
in Latin America and the 5th most courteous in the world.
Do the residents just work?
Of course not. Remember that the best hubs of entertainment,
gastronomy, culture and leisure are born in worldwide
financial centers. The economic potential of large cities is also
reflected in their investment in spaces to combat stress, such
as theaters, shopping malls and even urban spas. The high
purchasing power of the population attracts new things to the
entertainment sector. If there is something new abroad, it arrives
quickly in São Paulo.
Is there a lot of traffic in the city?
Heavy traffic is a characteristic of large metropolises. São
Paulo has the best subway system in Brazil, which is also
among the cleanest and safest in the world. With the subway it’s
very easy to avoid traffic. It has stops at many of the main attractions
in the city. The hotel complex of São Paulo, with nearly
50 thousand rooms, makes it possible for visitors to stay near
their favorite attractions and interests.
What about safety?
In São Paulo, violence rates are higher in the outskirts of the city.
According to the Seade Foundation (State Data Analysis System),
the Consolação region, for example, reported only one murder in
2005. The region includes neighborhoods such as Higienópolis,
which has one of the most sophisticated shopping malls in the
city, and the Pacaembu, where the stadium of the same name is
located. The rate is equal to an average of 1.96 murders per 100
thousand inhabitants, around the same number as Paris.
Is São Paulo too big?
São Paulo’s 1,530 square kilometers is almost a world unto
itself. But this doesn’t mean that visitors necessarily have to
explore the whole city. On each trip, it’s possible to stay in a
hotel near places of interest, and taking the metro helps to
“shrink” the city.
Do you think paulistanos are cold?
A city that was formed by waves of foreign immigrants such
as Italians, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabs and Japanese, as well
as migrants from various regions of Brazil can’t be an unfriendly
city. It is open to new residents and to tourists as well. It’s a city
that has traditional celebrations of its various colonies and also
has bars for its various ethnic groups and all styles of shops.
Hold your event in SP
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SÃO PAULO
Differentials
Resistance
São Paulo Turismo supports your event
In partnership with the São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau, SPTuris supports the preparation of briefs on the city of São
Paulo to solicit candidature as headquarters for national and international events, as well as helping to carry out site inspections.
The official tourism agency of the city also provides an image bank, electronic maps, videos, promotional texts and a
marketing e-mail template that can be used in creating various types of publicity (print or electronic) for personalized group
events and programs. Additionally, SPTuris publicizes the event on the São Paulo City Calendar on the internet, if it is of interest
to the promoter, and provides electronic tools with the contents of the Program São Paulo Stay Another Day, which is an incentive
for prolonging the stay of business visitors in the city. Consult us at turismodenegocios@spturis.com
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