Carnival: Rio street parties to attract 5 mi revelers, BRL 1 bi
Rio’s Carnival blocos—as the organized street Carnival parties are called across Brazil—are expected to generate some BRL 1 billion in revenue, with an expected public of over 5 million people. Ronnie Costa, head of the city’s tourism authority Riotour, believes street festivities should account for about 20 percent of the total Carnival business in the city’s commerce and services.Costa participated this week in the unveiling of the new facilities to host more than 70 samba schools from the Silver and Bronze series, which previously paraded on Avenida Intendente Magalhães, in northern Rio.“Carnival is already here. We’ve already had some blocos, we’ve already seen technical rehearsals at the Sapucaí. Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival lasts some three, four months,” he said. “After two years w...