Rio presents its tourism potential in Rome and highlights new air connectivity with Italy to boost international travel.
The Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro held a special presentation in Rome for travel agents, tour operators, airlines and Italian tourism trade representatives. The action is part of an international strategy designed to expand promotion in high-potential outbound markets. Authorities such as Gustavo Tutuca, Nicola Miccione and Sergio Ricardo Almeida attended the event.
At the opening, participants highlighted advances in air connectivity between Brazil and Italy. The seven weekly direct flights operated by ITA Airways on the Rome–Rio route strengthen Galeão as a major gateway to Brazil and increase the state’s competitiveness in Europe.
Italy has a historical connection with Rio and is a market with enormous growth potential. Bringing this presentation to Rome means showcasing our diversity, our experiences and the strength of tourism in Rio, encouraging more Italians to visit not only the capital but also the unique attractions of our countryside. In 2025, we took the state to more than 20 cities abroad, expanding air connectivity, strengthening destination promotion and reinforcing Galeão as a major gateway to Brazil. All this work has one clear goal: bringing Rio closer to the world and turning this movement into development for all regions of the state – said Tutuca.
The event highlighted the cultural, historical, gastronomic and natural attractions found across Rio’s 12 tourism regions. The Italian market continued to grow and surpassed last year’s numbers, reaching 32,456 visitors between January and October 2025.
Rio de Janeiro is experiencing the best moment of its tourism in more than 30 years. We are investing in safety, infrastructure and promotion to show the world that Rio is much more than a postcard. It is a vibrant, welcoming state, ready to receive an increasing number of visitors. The Italian market is a priority, and our goal is to strengthen this connection, generating development, jobs and income in all regions of the state – said Nicola Miccione.
The meeting took place during a period of significant growth in international tourism. From January to October, nearly 1.8 million foreign tourists visited the state. The official projection is to surpass the historic mark of 2 million visitors by December.
The mission in Rome is part of a wide international promotion agenda that, in 2025, included countries such as Canada, the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates. More than 20 foreign cities hosted promotional actions to strengthen Rio’s tourism, diversify source markets and stimulate regional development.
