Comments for Brazil's Rich-Poor Gap Shrinks and So Does Everyone's Income at http://www.brazzilmag.com , comment 0 to 3 out of 3 comments http://www.brazzilmag.com Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:04:33 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7698/1/#pc_6177 Not so sure. The GINI index is far worse than what is mentionned in the article. And Brazil remains almost to the bottom of the rankings for the wealth inequality ! Concerning the development loans, good for you, but at what rate ? Some of my friends are developing a beach resort in Vietnam. The government loan is 65 % of the project costs and the interest rate is.....1 % ! You read well....ONE PER CENT !!l It happens thus that Vietnam tourism is BOOMING but only growing slowly in Brazil ! Sadly too the Brazilian price/quality/service is also not so competitive when compared to your competitors, wether it is compared to your neighbours in LATAM or worldwide in the developing nations. Finally, please remember that the Brazilian tourism account is in deficit, meaning that Brazilians spend more abroad than foreigners spend in Brazil. That also means that even Brazilians themselves agree with my statements and realize that doing tourism abroad is better than locally ! - ch.c. Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:15:09 +0100 http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7698/1/#pc_6171 Darlene, I´ve lived here for 28 years and it's true that there has been many improvements ... and there still is room for more. I am retired and operate a tour agency in Natal, the northeast ... and am president of an NGO/ONG working with local communities in the interior. I, too, have a project for a small eco-lodge (guest ranch) in the sertão region of Acari, Rio Grande do Norte. ... The government now is offering special incentives and development loans in the area of tourism ... our project would provide some 25 jobs. Acari community has an 80% unemployment rate. Donald - Donald Reid Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:00:58 +0100 http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7698/1/#pc_6168 I have been to Brazil about six times since 1989 and each time could see the improvement in just about everything. Was particularly pleased with seeing the children in the rural areas going to school in their canoes. One day I hope to own a small eco-lodge there just to employ a few more Brazilians and make their life a little better. I love Brazil. Darlene - Darlene Aitken Thu, 21 Dec 2006 09:20:04 +0100