Come to Rio, get robbed: Brazil tourism body shares awkward Instagram post

An aerial view of the Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. Believing that it was sharing a testimony highlighting the beauty of Rio de Janeiro, the public agency promoting tourism in Brazil made a blunder by publishing a message that actually denounced violence. The testimony in English was published late on Feb 4, 2020, in Embratur's Instagram account, which then deleted it after being mocked by Internet users. — AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: When marketing Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's national tourism agency typically focuses on the city's world-class beaches, samba-filled music scene and caipirinha-fuelled parties. Violent crime is rarely listed among the attractions.

But in an embarrassing social media snafu this week, the Brazilian Tourist Board (Embratur) accidentally shared a critical Instagram post from a tourist who did not enjoy her stay in the so-called "Cidade Maravilhosa", or Marvelous City.