Brazil plans to turn Rio shantytown to tourism spot

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Monday announced plans to turn Rio's Complexo do Alemao shantytown into a tourism spot as recent police operations significant reduced crime there.

The government, she said, is carrying out a major facelift of the shantytown and improving living conditions there, with the construction of a cable car line, a state-of-the-art 3D movie theater, a family clinic, a school, as well as several other renovations.

Last week, Rousseff inaugurated a new cable car line which connects the shantytown to a neighboring train station, facilitating travel to and from the remotest corner of the shantytown on a hill.

Rio has several tourist attractions in shantytowns. Some hotels located in slums near the beach offer beautiful views of the city.