USD 112 million for tourism in Ceará

(Montevideo, July 3^rd, 2012).- Twelve municipalities located along the coast in the Brazilian state of Ceara will benefit from the Tourism Development Program of the West Coast, which will be partially financed by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, which announced the approval of USD 112 million for this program.

Enrique Garcia, Executive President of the Latin American financial institution stated that "The approved program is in line with Brazil's National Tourism Plan, through which the government  of the country assumes Tourism as a factor that induces competitiveness and growth, generation of employment, social inclusion, and reduction of regional inequalities".  

The loan approved for the state of Ceara is guaranteed by the Federative Republic of Brazil, and will be executed by the Tourism Secretariat of Ceara (SETUR). The program seeks to strengthen the comprehensive strategy for economic, social, and tourism development in the area of influence of the 12 municipalities participating in the program.

It should be noted that the state has a high potential for tourism, and for more than 20 years, it has been implementing a strategy of interventions aimed at promoting tourism as a pillar for its economic and social development.

The program, whose total cost reaches USD 160 million, includes a series of integrated actions of urban development in the municipalities of the western coast, which include provision of water and sewage, tourism infrastructure, and the creation of social capital. In addition, it includes the construction of the Jericoacoara Airport, and the expansion of the highway that connects the city of Fortaleza with Paracuru.