Mr Crivella, an evangelical pastor elected as mayor in October, thinks the move would boost tourism to notoriously dangerous city. Photo / Getty Images
Mr Crivella, an evangelical pastor elected as mayor in October, thinks the move would boost tourism to notoriously dangerous city. Photo / Getty Images
Tourists visiting Rio de Janeiro may soon have to pay a tax — to help secure compensation in the event they're mugged.
The idea was floated by the mayor-elect Marcelo Crivella at a meeting of business leaders, the Daily Mail reported.
Mr Crivella, an evangelical pastor due to take up office on January 1, thinks the move would boost tourism to the notoriously dangerous city.
The 59-year-old, who was elected in October, told the audience that he wants to "shatter Rio's negative image" and that his immediate goal was to double tourism in Rio from one million tourists per year to two million.
His idea, which he called a "bold proposal", is to levy a new tax on plane tickets bought by tourists and use the proceeds to reimburse them should they become a victim of crime.
"Rio de Janeiro cannot continue treating its tourists as if they were an afterthought."
Meanwhile the locals are left wondering where their compensation is - especially since they're on the receiving end of much of the city's crime. Photo / Getty Images
People in Rio have been bemused by the idea of taxing tourists to pay for their misfortune.
"Creating such a tax makes no sense, unless the aim is to discourage tourism in Rio de Janeiro," Mário Beni, a scholar of the global tourism industry who has served on the United Nations' World Committee on Tourism Ethics told the New York Times.
The proposal was also mocked on Twitter by Brazilian comedian José Simão, who said crime was so rife in Rio extra funding would be needed.
"They'll have to print money," he joked on Twitter.
Meanwhile the locals are left wondering where their compensation is — especially since they're on the receiving end of much of the city's crime.
"I was in the room when he proposed the idea," Alfredo Lopes, president of Rio's hotel association and its convention and visitors bureau, told the New York Times.
"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."
Despite the Olympic Games being held in the city this summer there have been countless incidents of violent crime in Rio this year.
A soldier on protection duty was killed and at least two of his comrades wounded when their car was sprayed with bullets after mistakenly entering a drug lord-controlled slum in August.
A gang of child criminals were even captured on camera robbing holidaymakers.
However, despite crime being rife in Brazil, it's not ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
A Travel Risk Map for 2017 has deemed Brazil to be a 'medium risk' country in 2017. Photo / Getty Images
A Travel Risk Map for 2017 has deemed Brazil to be "medium risk", with Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Darfur, Somalia and Timbuktu deemed the most dangerous.
A spokesman for Medical and security specialists International SOS and Control Risks, who designed the map, explained medium risk: "Periodic political unrest, violent protests, insurgency and/or sporadic acts of terrorism occur.
"Travellers and expatriates may face risk from communal, sectarian or racial violence and violent crime.
"Capacity of security and emergency services and infrastructure varies. Industrial action can disrupt travel."
Insurance company Aviva has offered advice on how to avoid being mugged.
A spokesman said: "It's very distressing to have something stolen or worse, to be confronted by a mugger.
"Be aware of your surroundings, avoid unlit and quiet streets, look out for anyone standing close to you and keep your belongings zipped-up and out of sight."
Don't keep your wallet in your back pocket. Photo / Getty Images
TOP TIPS TO AVOID PICK-POCKETS
1. Keep your wallet, purse or phone in a zipped-up pocket — not in the back-pocket of your trousers.
2. Use a handbag with a strap that goes across your body and over the shoulder — muggers can quickly snatch a shoulder bag.
3. Put your purchases in a back pack — it's easy to put down shopping bags and forget to pick them up.
4. Put your camera on a strap around your neck.
5. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash - share it out so it's not in one place.
