Last week I was interviewed by Seth Kirby from Anglia Ruskin University, UK.
He is a PhD student with a currently undertaking research into the business impacts associated with the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The aim of the study is to examine the short term business impacts and legacies for businesses or organisations in Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, it will focus on how businesses responded to the broader opportunities and challenges associated with the hosting of the Olympic Games, establish the role and extent that local and national authorities and policymakers played in the process of providing support and opportunities to businesses, and attempt to understand ways in which businesses can best utilise these events to their advantage in the future.
It was a pleasure to contribute with my perspectives hoping that these studies will be spread world wide. The questionnaire might still be available here. We look forward to see its results and share them.
Seth found us through Ethical Travel Guide and researched about our agency. Read his article below that perfectly describes our aims and activities:
This morning I visited the offices of Rio EnCantos and felt inspired to write a short piece featuring their approach to developing community driven and ecological sensitive tours across Rio de Janeiro. Rio EnCantos is a grassroots tour and exchange agency led by Kelly Tavares and her experienced and knowledgeable team of guides. The travel agency offers an extensive number of cultural and historical tour options and educational exchange programmes, which help visitors to discover the treasures and raise awareness of socio-cultural issues and development in Rio de Janeiro.
Cultural tours are bespoke and highlight the quality of the “Cariocas” lifestyle and the richness of the city’s wonders and attractions. Excursions include experiencing the delights of Rio’s historic street art, introducing a flavour of Cariocas through off the beaten track city, sightseeing and wildlife tours, lunch and tasting sessions, strolls through Rio’s Little Africa, hikes, adventure and outdoor activities, trips to art exhibitions, heritage sites and museums, coffee experiences, in addition to immersing groups into the culture and music of Brazil, like the beats of the samba schools. Ultimately, this brings to life the authenticity of the setting such as Rio de Janeiro’s charming ideals, traditions and architecture, and facilitates a greater understanding and recognition of the local culture and unique urban and rural communities.
Rio EnCantos work with a range of other organisations to extend the reach of the global community going to enormous lengths to provide environmentally friendly services which have a positive community impact, for example, community-based adventure travel experts, Keteka. Their approach respects codes of ethics and acknowledges the importance of preserving natural capital, and the integral relationship with many societal and community challenges. Furthermore, they are listed on the Ethical Travel Guide – a worldwide directory of ethical tour operators and places to visit.
Collaboration with local and international partners and linking non-profit organisations with international students is into the range of their operations. They develop partnerships with local tour guides, universities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and support local social enterprises to create favourable social, economic and environmental conditions. This not only expands the network of stakeholders who could benefit from the activities of the organisation, but also promotes and empowers individual guides, builds trust with their customer base and enhances the tourist offer. They have received glowing praise and recommendations from travellers and trekkers alike. You can find out more on their website, view the trailer below or check out the reviews of theirs tours here.
BY Seth Kirby
PhD Student in Olympic Tourism and Event Impacts
Department of Marketing, Enterprise and Tourism
Lord Ashcroft International Business School (LAIBS)
Anglia Ruskin University
East Road
Cambridge
CB1 1PT
Academia | Twitter: @sethkirbyaru
Featured photo by Stephanie Reist at MAR museum of Rio de Janeiro with exchange students from Duke University and UFRRJ, Brasil