Touristification and urban regeneration: the case of the Porto Maravilha project in Rio de Janeiro’s port area

Abstract

This article evaluates the process of touristification in Rio de Janeiro’s port area driven by the Porto Maravilha project. Through an analysis of tourism impacts on the making of space and socioeconomic dynamics, it discusses the relationship between tourism and urban regeneration. The article also highlights how culture is used to symbolically revalorize the area and boost the local economy. The results draw attention to the failed attempt to insert Rio de Janeiro’s port into the international tourism circuit after a decade since the launch of the Porto Maravilha project.

Keywords:
Touristification; Urban Regeneration; Porto Maravilha; Rio de Janeiro