With an investment of R$11.9 million in the first six years, Turvo State Park’s 30-year concession was signed by Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Lett. The Brazilian Conservation Unit located in northwest Rio Grande do Sul will be managed by Três Fronteiras Navegação e Turismo, part of the Macuco Safari Group, which has been working for 35 years with ecotourism in the Iguaçu National Park in Paraná.
The concession has been supported by the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), and aims to use areas, attractions and facilities. It also provides for investments to rehabilitate, modernize, operate and maintain the park over three decades of the contract period.
In addition to the R$11.9 million invested in the first six years of the concession, a R$5.7 million return is expected from the government of Rio Grande do Sul, which recently awarded the Caracol and Tinhas parks to the private sector.
According to Eduardo Leite, Rio Grande do Sul is the state with one of the largest franchising programs in the country. Relinquishing state gardens to the private sector does not mean privatizing space, but rather a partnership that seeks collective welfare. The governor explained that the government will maintain the role of regulator and supervisor, ensuring the preservation of public interests and treating this nature with due respect. “This approach is showing positive results, with a marked improvement in the quality of services and in the offer of recreational activities and sustainable tourism.”
Plan to transition within 30 days
Representatives of Três Fronteiras Navegação e Turismo confirmed that an operational transition plan will be presented within 30 days. The document will contain a plan for taking responsibility for the operation of Parque do Turvo.
Located in the municipality of Derrubadas, in the northwest region, next to the Uruguay River, the park includes an area of 174 square kilometers of indigenous forest with an abundance of fauna and flora. The part granted within the area designated for visits and tourism corresponds to 0.23 square kilometers.
Franchises and investments in Rio Grande do Sul
Deputy Secretary of Partnerships and Franchising, Gabriel Fajardo, discussed the investments planned through partnerships with the private sector and commented that the franchises do not end when the contract is signed.
He added: We will have investments of about 15 billion Brazilian riyals in the country in the coming years with the privatizations and concessions that have been implemented. It is an important step for the development of Rio Grande do Sul and for the improvement of public services, such as in the state parks, Fajardo said. “We will continue to monitor and demand quality in service delivery.”
“Friendly zombie guru. Avid pop culture scholar. Freelance travel geek. Wannabe troublemaker. Coffee specialist.”