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Brazil Travel: How Studiosus and Hauser react to the forest fires

2019-09-06T03:10:31.124Z


Paradise is on fire - and the government of Brazil in the criticism. Tour operators such as Studiosus and Hauser condemn the policies of President Bolsonaro.



As a mighty river, the Amazon flows through the South American rainforest, about two thirds of the river basin are in the north of Brazil. The ecosystem is considered the green lung of the earth. So beautiful, so useful - a wonder of nature and fascinating for tourists.

The miracle is in danger. No one can stop by the images that go around the world: Amazon in flames, charred tree trunks and clouds of smoke that draw to São Paulo. This year the rainforest burns to a shocking extent. More than 80,000 fires have already been registered.

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Destination Brazil: Longing Amazonas

Even though the tourist centers, such as those around Manaus and Santarém, have not been affected by the forest fires so far, in the face of the inferno, internationally active tour operators have their say. For example, the US company G-Adventures, which offers Amazon tours in Peru, describes the situation as a tangible "environmental crisis" that has the potential to weaken tourism.

"The negative headlines could drive tourists for months or even years," fears G-Adventures owner Bruce Poon Tip, according to the US online magazine TravelPulse. "Brazil's leadership now has the opportunity to emerge and save the Amazon from further destruction, or simply stand by and watch the benefits (of the rainforest, Red.) Go to everyone."

Hauser in the "symbolic boycott"

Even the German company Hauser Excursions sees the policy in duty. According to its own information, the largest German-speaking provider for hiking and trekking trips Brazil - unlike planned - will not include in the catalog until further notice. Most recently, the organizer had the country in the program 2017 - with moderate success. Large sales did not bring the travel.

But Hauser CEO Ovid Jacota sees "tremendous potential" in the South American country. He says: "For travelers, Brazil provides so much inspiration - both in nature and in terms of possible encounters with locals." His wish: to create an active round trip worthwhile for the customers and for the company. But these plans have stopped the organizer from Munich for the time being.

With a "symbolic boycott" Jacota wants to clarify his personal and the attitude of the company: "We do not want to support this development." The global value of the Amazon does not seem to be clear to the government that there can be no question of respecting nature and man.

Only when President Jair Bolsonaro made clear efforts, or at least a commitment to the protection of the Amazon, Jacota could imagine offering Brazil travel again. The Amazon has influence on the whole planet, he says. "He is important to all humanity."

Studiosus: "Sympathy values ​​for the country will fall sharply"

Brazil plays an important role in the fight against global warming because of its vast forests. But Bolsonaro, who doubts man-made climate change, has taken a series of steps since he took office at the beginning of the year, allowing for the penetration of Brazil's very powerful agricultural economy into the forested and species-rich Amazon.

Brazil's ultra-right leader had previously rejected international criticism of his environmental policy. The emergency aid granted by the G7 summit in Biarritz, France had initially been rejected by Bolsonaro. He accused Germany and France of wanting to "buy" Brazilian sovereignty over the Amazon region with aid amounting to 20 million dollars (18 million euros). Bolsonaro later called in and said he would accept international support under certain conditions - as long as his government kept control of the money.

"We assume that against the background of this policy, the sympathy values ​​for the country and the demand of our customers will fall sharply," says Peter-Mario Kubsch, CEO of the tour operator Studiosus. "We condemn the policy of the Bolsonaro government for preserving the Amazon rainforests and against the indigenous minorities."

Studiosus has Brazil tours with names like "Wonderland on Sugar Loaf with Amazon" in its portfolio. Since the targeted targets are currently not affected by the fires, the company also says no tours.

With Hauser Excursions go per year about 7000 people go on tour. "The likelihood is high that many of them would not book a trip to the Amazon anyway," says CEO Jacota. His customers are nature lovers - they would certainly not support the events in Brazil.

Travel to Nature: "Impact on Climate and Biodiversity"

In the "land full of beauty" also the travel organizer Travel to Nature is based in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Its founder, Reiner Stoll, recently called on the Brazilian tourist office to influence the government. "A sustainable forest management is the goal," quoted the industry magazine "fvw" the tourist Stoll.

"The rapid exploitation of the rainforest ecosystem will have serious consequences on our climate and biodiversity in the medium and long term." The forest fires not only exceeded the normal measure by far, but were also politically conditioned, says Stoll loud "fvw". "According to many scientists, the policy of the current President Bolsonaro contributes a large share of this disaster."

Which political abuses concretely lead to the fact that the forests burn on the Amazon, Hauser boss Jacota does not want to evaluate. But the results - cleared land, burning trees - the nature lover feels painful. In addition come the economical components: "As organizer of active journeys we live from an intact nature."

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2019-09-06

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