Economic crises upsize Rio’s Carnival

World Today

A reveller of Imperatriz samba school performs during the second night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on february 09, 2016. (AFP / CHRISTOPHE SIMON)

While Brazil has made headlines with its deep recession, the economic doldrums haven’t spoiled Rio’s determination to party.

While the city’s world-renowned Carnival officially runs from Feb. 5 to the 10, the neighborhood samba parties were already warming up for the big event.

CCTV America’s Lucrecia Franco reports from Rio.

Follow Lucrecia C. Franco on Twitter @LucreciaFranco

Carnival is not only a chance for locals like Fabricio de Lima to make some extra cash, it’s a way to survive. De Lima makes the equivalent of around $100 per day selling beer.

“I am unemployed. The country is in crisis and this is a good opportunity to make some money for our survival,” he said.

Rio’s tourism industry may be the biggest beneficiary of Brazil’s plunging currency. The real lost around a third of its value against the dollar in 2015, making this year’s Carnival cheaper for tourists.

“When we talk about Carnival, a lot of the impact – 70 percent – is more of the national market, and 30 percent is the international market,” Michael Nagi, the director of Rio’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, said. “But the international market is growing every time more because it’s become cheap to come to Brazil.”

Rio is expecting tourists to spend around $800 million during Carnival this year.