Nordeste represents 18% of Brazilian territory and is home to 57 million inhabitants, and yet is much less known than the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. However, that’s changing; over the past few years, it’s fast becoming a tourist favourite.
Eccentric iItalian millionaire, Georgio Bonelli, has opened a dinosaur park in the region, set to become the largest in the world. “It’s great to be able to experience adventures that are no longer possible in Europe”. The region is also considered one of the best places in the world for kitesurfing. Chico has turned the sport into a profession. Teaching tourists enables him to earn seven times more than his fisherman father.
Everyone wants a piece of this new tourist hotspot. While entrepreneurs might be profiting from the beauties Nordeste has to offer, this comes at a cost to the region and the native Nordestinos. As alcohol-fuelled parties throughout the region get wilder and wilder, the coastline is rapidly being transformed into concrete to keep up with the demands of rampant redevelopment.
In recent years, local people have begun to raise their voices and denounce abuses. While the Brazilian government have attempted to implement regulations to protect this precious area, the rules are not always clear. In the midst of mounting tension between this lack of clarity, eager developers and increasing numbers of tourists, Nordeste risks losing its unique charm, as the fragile balance of the ecosystem is put at risk.