The number of international tourists visiting Rio de Janeiro increased by 8% in 2010 compared with the previous year, according to a study conducted by Embratur, the Brazilian Tourism Board.

The city received 1.61 million foreign visitors last year, compared with 1.49 million in 2009, an increase of 120,000 people and the highest level of international tourists in the last five years.

Revenues generated by tourism in the city came to over £1.2 billion.

RioTur - the Rio de Janeiro City Tourism Company - believes the total will be even higher this year, since Rio received 131 per cent more international tourists than expected for its Carnival in March.

Tourism Secretary and president of RioTur, Antônio Pedro Figueira de Mello said: “We expect a further 300,000 tourists for the Rock in Rio festival alone.

“We are hosting a growing number of large-scale events which are attracting even more tourists.

“And Rio’s profile abroad is constantly growing.”

Rio will host the 2016 Olympic Games and will also be a focus of attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with the city due to host the final of the tournament.

For more information on Brazilian tourism, head over to Brazil Tour.

City.Mobi

Also in South America today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Rio de Janeiro. 

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Rio.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.