Brazil’s leading DF&TR operator Dufry says the real business benefit from this June’s FIFA 2014 World Cup will be felt afterwards.

Dufry CEO Julian Díaz told TRBusiness last month that while he is looking forward to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this summer both from a business perspective and as a football fan, he says the real positives for the country will most likely come from a large tourism boost.

He said: “Personally I have been involved in events like the Olympic Games and World Cups in the past and I think if what we are expecting is the company in 2014 in each of these locations to change its performance because of this event, then the answer is no, because it is a short event, three or four weeks maximum.

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“But the good thing with these events is not when they happen. It’s the window display for the country and I think in this case we have examples like Barcelona in Spain.

“Before and after the Olympic Games, Barcelona became a window display and now many more international travellers like to go to Barcelona.

“I get the impression that Brazil has a tremendous opportunity. The number of international tourists last year in Brazil was 5.5m. This is a tremendous window display and I think for Rio de Janeiro especially.

“But there are other places that will be shown off to the world and for me this is the most important thing. Before and after the event I think Brazil is going to become a completely different country.”