Brazil ‘to charge mugging tax’ to pay tourists back when they fall victim to crime
THE new mayor-elect of Rio de Janeiro wants to introduce a bizarre tourist 'mugging tax' to raise compo payouts for those visitors robbed in the street.
The payout pot could be funded by a hike on taxes for air passengers, Marcelo Crivella told business leaders at a special tourism lunch event.
“Rio de Janeiro cannot continue treating its tourists as if they were an afterthought,” said Crivella, calling for action to shatter the “negative image” of the city.
After being mugged- one of the major crimes in the country - tourists would appeal to the Rio authorities for the compensation.
However, travel industry leaders have expressed concern the charge is just as off-putting as Rio’s rocketing crime rate.
“Creating such a tax makes no sense, unless the aim is to discourage tourism in Rio de Janeiro,” Mário Beni, who has served on the UN’s World Committee on Tourism Ethics, told .
The city is infamous for its high levels of street crime.
Ahead of this year's Olympics, Rio officials declared a “state of public calamity” as street robberies for the month reached 8,000 – more than twice the usual amount.
In August, a video emerged apparently showing 27 separate incidents of pick-pocketing and daylight street robbery of tourists in Rio.
The new idea has also caused consternation among residents of the crime-ridden city, who receive no such financial protection from the authorities.
“I was in the room when he proposed the idea,” said Alfredo Lopes, president of Rio’s Hotel Association.
“The first thing that came to mind is, ‘If you’re going to reimburse tourists, then as a citizen of Rio, I want my reparations, too.’”
In June, Rio police rolled out a banner reading “Welcome to hell” in the arrivals hall at the city’s international airport, during demonstrations against funding cuts within the emergency services.
Nearly 190,000 Brits visited Brazil last year, according to the Foreign Office (FCO).
The FCO said most visits are trouble-free but warned of high crime levels.
"Violence and crime can occur anywhere and often involve firearms or other weapons. You should be vigilant, particularly before and during the festive and carnival period.
"Most visits to Rio de Janeiro are trouble free. The most common incidents affecting British nationals are thefts or pick pocketing around Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach and the Lapa area."
"In any situation, be ready to hand over valuables if you’re threatened. Don’t attempt to resist attackers. They may be armed and under the influence of drugs."