Hello Tourist!

Even before the 2010 World Cup takes place in South Africa Brazil has rolled out its first professional training initiative for World Cup 2014 -- "Hello Tourist!"

What we want to see now are plans for infrastructure accessibility and professional training on serving tourists with disabilities.

The expertise is out there to be utilized. Our colleagues in the disability community working on World Cup 2010 accessibility in South Africa are ready to offer their services to the Brazilian disability community in developing their own program. Vamos la!

Hello, Tourist! is a partnership between the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism and the Roberto Marinho Foundation whose objective is to teach English and Spanish to tourism professionals, especially those whose work is related to tourist assistance. This is the first professional training activity motivated by the Football World Cup, which will be held in Brazil in 2014. Until the end of 2010, we hope to reach around 80.000 participants in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Amazonas.
 
The distance-training course will be offered free of charge to waiters, taxi drivers, craftsmen and artists, receptionists, phone operators, local stall tenders, drivers and guides, among other professionals who are linked to the tourist. Using an online method, the course will use distance-training and custom-designed activities according to each region and to the area where participants work.

http://www.olaturista.org.br/main.jsp?lumPageId=4028808122091AF801220E4376C40D3A