Natal is the capital and largest city of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the Northeast region of Brazil. The city is a well-known tourist destination, both nationally and internationally. The City of the Sun, as it is sometimes referred to, boasts a pleasant climate with average temperatures around 28ºC and bright sunshine for most of the year. It is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, combining a tropical climate, beautiful beaches, excellent gastronomy, and nearly 900 thousand welcoming inhabitants. Every year, Natal welcomes thousands of Brazilian and foreign visitors attracted by the natural beauty of the city and the eastern coast of Rio Grande do Norte, serving as the gateway to various tourist attractions and points of interest in the state. Every December, Natal hosts the largest off-season Carnival in Brazil, Carnatal.
Natal has some of Brazil's most modern and well-located hotel chains, as well as excellent restaurants, bars, shopping malls, and other entertainment venues. This reflects the local economy being predominantly based on the service sector, with leisure tourism standing out nationally and internationally. In the last decade, business tourism has been gaining prominence in the city, as Natal has attracted many professional events. In 2014, Natal was one of the twelve cities that hosted the FIFA World Cup, with the Arena das Dunas stadium project standing out among the host cities.
