Press Releases

17th World Petroleum Congress boosts business tourism

Roughly US$ 13 million will be injected into the economy of the city of Rio de Janeiro during the week in which the 17th World Petroleum Congress and the Rio Oil & Gas Expo 2002 are to take place. This amount will come from the Brazilian and foreign visitors who will participate in the events scheduled for September 1-5. The estimate was attained based on data provided by the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH). According to ABIH, visitors from abroad who come to Rio de Janeiro to take part in a congress usually stay for six days and spend an average of US$ 240 per day, while their Brazilian counterparts leave US$ 140 on a daily basis in this city.

The Brazilian Organising Committee in turn estimates that around 3 thousand executives will attend the Congress. They will be joined by about 500 accompanying persons. Additionally, 250 students and 350 journalists are expected. To lodge them, Rio de Janeiro's hotels have earmarked over 3,500 rooms. Besides accommodations, Congress attendants are expected spend on touristic excursions and technical tours, several of which will take them outside Rio de Janeiro. Other possible sources of revenue are Congress-related social events, which are offered to event participants on an optional basis.

Already early on in the registration process, Chevron announced that it will send a 160-strong delegation, and the Chinese National Committee revealed its intention to send 150 delegates. Moreover, the presence of 126 US delegates has been confirmed, as well as that of 30 participants from Qatar. Notwithstanding, most bookings will be made during April. Countries such as France, Great Britain, Canada Japan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and South Africa will have each its own booth or pavilion in the concurrent Rio Oil & Gas Expo 2002, and therefore will also send representatives.

Rio de Janeiro, April 9 2002.

For further information, please contact:

Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
Malu Fernandes - malu.fernandes@edelman.com
(+55 21) 2271-3109 / 9306-6988
Vania Santos - vania.santos@edelman.com
(+55 21) 2271-3100 ext. 428 / 9672-2209