For those of you lucky enough to have taken a South American cruise, or traveled there by land, you may be eligible for a free trip for two to Brazil. With the many cruise lines who sail the routes of South America, there are surely a large number of American cruisers who have photographed the many places they have visited. Well, good news. They want those photographs, and are giving away a lovely vacation to entice you to send them in.

Whether a vacation is defined as a weekend away from the kids or an around-the-world journey, the
Brazilian Tourist Board, EMBRATUR, is offering Americans the chance to celebrate the beauty of travel and the photos that capture it. Brazil is a land of amazing beauty and diversity — from its beaches to mountains and rainforests to its people, so who better to celebrate the beauty of travel and the photos that capture our adventures?

Weekend tourists and roaming travelers alike are encouraged to enter the contest online at travelbrazilcontest.com from August 27 to November 21, 2008. EMBRATUR is asking for an electronic version of the photo and a 100-word essay describing the moment the photo was taken and how, in the entrant’s own words, it exemplifies the beauty and wonder of travel. All entries will be judged by Peter Guttman, an award-winning photojournalist who created a unique guidebook series for Fodors, and the top entry will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Brazil.

“Travelling to more than 200 countries and visiting each continent, I’ve taken thousands of photos that capture experiences and evoke vivid recollections. Travelers with just a handful of pictures can collect memories and amazing stories,” said Guttman. “I’ve recently returned from the Brazilian Amazon where I was amazed by the colorful and captivating culture and natural beauty in this exotic corner of the world. The wondrous scenes and memories a photo can record, especially when traveling, inspire others to try similar adventures and seek out marvels of the planet.”

Traveling to Brazil is also increasing in popularity. The country’s overall tourism revenues are on the rise and nearing record levels as a result of foreign tourists extending the length of their stay and
increasing their spending. According to recent studies, after the Argentineans, North Americans visit Brazil most frequently, more than 700,000 Americans visited Brazil in 2007. The majority of these visitors visit to meet family members (34.85 percent) while others visit for business and 26.7 percent traveled to the country for leisure.

Tourism increases are not the only growing numbers within Brazil. Brazil is listed in the annual International Congress and ConventionAssociation (ICCA) as one of the “Top 10 meeting destinations in the world”for the second year in a row, ranking number eight.

Eight Brazilian cities made the coveted list of the world’s most hosted event sites. This list includes: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, PortoAlegre, Florianopolis, Foz do Iguacu, Ouro Preto and Campinas.

This positive momentum is due in part to the marketing strategy created by the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, EMBRATUR. After creating the Ministryin 2003, EMBRATUR began working fully to endorse Brazilian products,services, and destinations in other country through promotions, marketing
and advertising. Brazil’s International Tourist Marketing Strategy, fivekey highlights promoted to the international market include: Sun & Beach,Ecotourism, Culture, Sports, and Business & Events. As part of this effort,the agency has a renewed focus on the promotion of the country as a privileged destination for leisure as well as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) segments.

The wide range of activities that Brazil has to offer, an increase in hotel offerings, gastronomical diversity, multiple shopping and entertainment options, along with its natural beauty and friendly people are some of the vast reasons that Brazil stands out as a top destination for all types of travel. Technorati has a ton of information on South American cruises, and visits to these eight cities.