Christ the Redeemer reopens in Rio de Janeiro after months of coronavirus closures
- Visitors to the historic site will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing
- Brazil estimates the country’s tourism sector has lost US$28.4 billion over the last five months
Major tourist sites in Rio de Janeiro, including the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the Brazilian city, reopened to the public on Saturday after being closed for five months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The reopening of the Christ (monument) symbolises the reopening of Brazil to tourism,” Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said at a ceremony at the base of the statue.
Visitors will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing, and will not be allowed to lie on the ground – as many do in attempting to get the best angle for photos at the feet of the huge Art Deco statue with its arms outstretched.
Located atop the 710-meter (2,300-feet) Corcovado hill in the centre of Rio in Tijuca national park, the monument offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city.
Since social-distancing measures forced its closure in March, Christ the Redeemer has continued to function as a religious sanctuary, offering public masses and holding vigils.
Also reopening to the public on Saturday were the Pao de Acucar cable car, which offers its own panoramic view of the city, the AquaRio aquarium and the gigantic Rio Star, Latin America’s largest Ferris wheel.
Brazil’s National Confederation of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC) estimates that the country’s tourism sector has lost 154 billion reales (US$28.4 billion) over the last five months, operating at only 14 per cent of its capacity.