Tourists robbed in Brazil near Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue

Rising violence in Rio de Janeiro has reduced tourism, costing $200m in lost revenue in 2017.

Brazil’s new President Jair Bolsonaro is sending troops to the northeastern state of Ceara in a bid to crack down on violent gangs.

Combatting crime was one of his key campaign pledges and it’s being put to an early test after 40 tourists were robbed at gunpoint on a popular hiking trail in Rio de Janeiro.

 

Al Jazeera’s Laura Burdon-Manley has more.