Shakira Draws 2 Million Fans to Free Rio Concert

On Saturday night, Shakira performed at a historic free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, attracting an estimated 2 million attendees. This event marks the third consecutive year that Rio has hosted such a large-scale concert, significantly impacting the city's tourism sector.

The concert is projected to generate around 777 million reai (approximately 155 million USD) in financial returns, according to studies by the city's tourism company, Riotur. Eduardo Cavalier, the mayor of Rio, emphasized that the investment in this event would yield a financial return 40 times greater than the tourist arrivals.

The concert saw nearly 8,000 security personnel deployed, including drones and facial recognition cameras, to ensure safety. Shakira performed hits like "Hips Don't Lie" while dressed in Brazil's national colors, and was joined on stage by Brazilian pop star Anitta and music legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia.