The Brazilian Tourism Board, known as Embratur, has launched two new tools to woo potential visitors. The country is on the cusp of world attention with the coming 2014 FIFA World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new tools – an interactive Brand Channel website and a new video game app called "Brasil Quest" – are designed help travelers learn more about the country and plan trips.

The Brazil Brand Channel website, developed in partnership with Google, will assist travelers in planning their trips to the country through interactive tools, images and detailed information about what to do while in Brazil. The site officially launches on Tuesday. New Yorkers can test the site at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall from noon to 3:30 p.m. that day.

Thursday, Embratur will launch the free "Brasil Quest" game app for iPhone, iPad and Android in Times Square. The game celebrates the 12 Brazilian host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup through the journey of YEP, an alien that decides to visit Brazil in search of happiness and becomes enchanted with the country's beauty and offerings. Users can download the game at their smartphone App Store and Google Play beginning March 23.

From noon to 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 22, visitors can go to the northwest corner of 45th Street and Broadway to play the game, which will be broadcast on a large screen in Times Square. The top three players will win a trip for two to one of three popular destination cities – Rio de Janeiro, Salvador or Manaus.

[Image via Brazil Tourism]

Filed under: Brazil