Andetur Brazilian Travel Club (NGO/ONG ABTC-Brasil) has been contracted by the municipal government of Acari, Rio Grande do Norte, to operate the new Centro do Turismo - Acari / Gargalheiras, the Centro do Imformações Turistica in the city park, and to build a tourism program under the guidelines of SEBRAE and EMBRATUR´S ROTEIRO SERIDÒ.

CENTRO DO TURISMO - ACARI / GALGAHEIRAS

ACARI, RIO GRANDE DO NORTE IS A LOGICAL CENTER FOR EXPANDED TOURS THROUGHOUT THE SERIDÓ REGION AS EXPLAINED IN THE PROJECT ROTEIRO SERIDÓ APPROVED BY THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE WITH SUPPORT FROM SEBRAE.

 

INVEST NOW! HOTEL FAZENDA RPPN SERNATIVO - One of the main attractions in the Acari community (since 1996) was the ecological reserve RPPN Sernativo which is one of our main interests at our NGO/ONG - Associação ABTC-BRASIL - Andetur Brazilian Travel Club, as it would provide a base for many more activities in the community. The 257 hectare reserve presently consists of 187 hectares of dedicated 'caatinga' reserve, supposedly protected by IBAMA under Federal Law, and the additional area where we propose to build the hotel-fazenda.

THIS RESERVE WAS SOLD TO INCRA WHO ARE DONATING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE LAND TO THE 'SEM TERRA' MOVEMENT ADMINISTERED BY SEARA ................................. THE ACTION IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY IBAMA AS IT WAS AN ILLEGAL TRANSACTION. THE RESERVE ITSELF MAY BE AVAILABLE AGAIN .... THE NGO/ONG ASSOCIAÇÂO ABTC-BRASIL HAS OFFERED SEARA A PROPOSAL TO MANAGE THE RESERVE IN RETURN FOR TITLE TO THE AREA OF THE PROPOSED HOTEL-FAZENDA.

This project has been elaborated by 'projetista' Donald Richard Reid – Director of Andetur Brasil Ltda., a licensed tour operator specializing in the northeast of Brazil, and personally registered with IBAMA – Ministério do Meio Ambiente – as Técnico Federal (Federal Technician) N° 235492 “Uso de Recursos Naturais / utilização do patrimônio natural; Turismo / complexos turísticos e de lazer, inclusive parques temáticos” and proposed manager of the RPPN Sernativo.

We have a smaller pre-project requiring a partner for a small bed and breakfast in the village of Gargalheiras. Contact Donald.

CAATINGA VEGETATION

Activities we propose for the RPPN include:

• Hotel-Fazenda would offer at least 10 independent cabins or chalets, ecological trails through the 'caatinga' and trekking in the mountains to over 35 registered archeological sites close by, cicloturismo (mountain bikes) tours, horse back tours, land rover tours, fishing (in the lake), and ecological boat trips on the lake and river. The tourist center at Gargalheiras would also offer 'day trips' and visits to the reserve for those that are 'visitors', not 'guests'.

• Location - the fazenda and reserve is located on the shores of the Gargalheiras reservoir (opposite shore directly behind me and my staff)

  Transportation to the reserve and the Hotel-Fazenda (most practical) would be by the boats we are constructing as a separate but related project.

INVESTMENT REQUIRED: (minimum) - One or more investors to purchase 50% ownership in the property of the Hotel-Fazenda ... required would be a minimum of US$ 50,000 cash which could qualify someone for residence in Brazil . Management would be responsible also for supervising the actual reserve (257 hectares - approximately 600 acres) . We would be obtaining under the Roteiro Seridó program a loan of at least another R$ 300,000 for the project at 8.5% per year (FNE-BANCO DO NORDESTE), with a 4 year grace period during construction of the hotel and recreational facilities. We could presently permit camping and a few guests in the main house; and conduct day trips as described.

OTHER ACTIVITIES: The RPPN Sernativo for many years was the site of an ongoing biological research activity related to medicinal plants from the sertão, their benefits and use, developing commercialization processes, as well as reptile research.

We plan to also study benefits of hortas (organic vegetable farming), production of 'mudas' (plant nursery), and production of composts using natural wastes.

Additional ideas related to activities we also propose at Sernativo:

• Herbário (Herbal drug store) - Farmácia "viva", a drug store for herbal medicine. Whoever is sick could go there and make his/her own medicine from local medicinal plants from the sertão. Would be completely supervised by a specialist in 'medicine plants'. And people would receive instructions about planting and raising their own medicine at home. Very interesting, don't you think? OBS - Note (DR): Herbal medicine is very popular in Brazil. This would work in conjunction with the planned community 'horta' in Acari and the research facility at Sernativo.

• Community horta located closer to the city of Acari (See Mandallas)

• Production of plants (mudas)for resell - Nursery

Mandala

• Compost production - there are some abandoned commercial areas near Acari that would be ideal for this activity. Would also work with the 'horta' above.

• Ecotourism activities we plan, include cultural, rural passeios, trekking, radical sports, mountain or rock climbing

• Cicloturismo (bicycle touring) based in Acari and Natal ....

• Boat tours on the lake: (2 - 16 passenger boats would be built locally in Acari)

• Raise and train quality horses for tour use and for sale

I HAVE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOR ACARI including:

• Casa Country (a country western store like in the states) - this is becoming extremely popular in Brazil right now (Check out the Google links for Casa Country Brasil) More on this tomorrow. This idea would also include a trailer (mobile store) to take to the local vaquejadas in Rio Grande do Norte. Country western clothing, hats, boots, belts, etc. are the ´hottest items' in Brazil today. Our wholesale outlet for Brazilian made products offers a complete line; but in demand are products imported from the USA. Also would offer sports equipment for the area.

	Casa Country type store
Sports Equipment and Supplies

• Country Western (Forro) dance with famous Brazilian country singers as a drawing card for Acari during weekends and special events - there is as covered building (galpão) across from the tourist center available. The idea of 'Forro' is not new in the northeast ... but with the 'country flair' that is becoming so popular, is new.

• Custom Trailer fabrication - horse and stock trailers (big market in Rio Grande do Norte and neighboring states). These types of trailers are common in the USA, the secret being in the axles (not available in Brazil).

• Semi-precious stones available locally THIS STORE TO BE LOCATED IN THE TOURIST CENTER ALREADY HAS AN INTERESTED TENANT!

• Three stores and restaurant available for lease in the tourist center (the restaurant may be already leased as we have a prospective operator)

• Retirement community - excellent potential development properties for sale! Private homes in the city, and small 'sitios' or farms are available in the nearby country side. An excellent property exists lakeside that could be developed in a retirement community. We need investors to work with this development.

• Vaquejadas (dates for Rio Grande do Norte) - The famous Brazilian rodeo of the northeast lasts all weekend long during the season. Plenty of excitement, country style dancing and music. Considered a national sport in the northeast. Note that we Barbeque here too. During the vaquejada season, attending these festivities is a normal part of our activities. Vaqueros from Acari participate in these events throughout the area of the Seridó (sertão).

• Country Bar-B-Q

• Raising Ostrichs (Avetruz) has excellent potential in the Acari area.