Long awaited by revelers from all over Brazil, Carnival – February 9-13 – promises to be a source of happiness for the tourism industry as well. According to estimates by the Ministry of Tourism, the party should inject R $ 11.14 billion into the national economy, the result of a record in the tourist movement. According to the Ministry, there will be 10.69 million Brazilian travelers and 400,000 international tourists.

“We are living the expectation of having the best carnival in history for the tourism sector and forecasts of numbers of travelers and financial movement prove this. This is a result of work being done to prepare more and more destinations to receive visitors from all over Brazil and also the world, with the improvement of infrastructure, qualification of services and legalization of the sector, “said Tourism Minister , Marx Beltrão.

The most searched cities are Rio de Janeiro (RJ), São Paulo (SP), Salvador (BA), Belo Horizonte (MG), Recife and Olinda (PE). Together, the six destinations account for 65% of all financial transactions in the period: R $ 7.4 billion. Data from the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (ABAV) show that, by the end of Carnival, sales of travel packages will increase 15% in relation to the same period of 2017. In addition to the cities known for folia, Foz do Iguaçu (PR) and cruises are also on the list of “darling” destinations for Carnival.

In Rio de Janeiro are estimated 6.5 million revelers and 1.5 million of tourists who, together with the residents, should move R $ 3.5 billion in the capital. Hotels are expected to reach the 85% overall occupancy rate in the city, which is 7% higher than last year, which was 78%. According to SindHotels Rio, up to now, about 78% of the hotel rooms located in the South Zone of the capital – Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema, Leblon, Flamengo, Botafogo and Centro – are reserved. In Barra da Tijuca, the reserve index is already 70%.

The capital of São Paulo is also among the main destinations of Carnival 2018 and should maintain the good results of 2017, according to São Paulo Tourism (SPTuris). The attractions of the Sambódromo and the Street Carnival should move R $ 464 million for the city’s tourism. The coastal region will also benefit and register occupancy of 90% in the hotel chain.

Salvador, known as a reference in Carnival, will receive 770 thousand tourists, of which 400 thousand are from the interior of Bahia and 300 thousand from other states, such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Pernambuco, Sergipe and Minas Gerais. Besides the Brazilians, 70 thousand foreigners are expected to come mainly from Argentina, France, Chile, Germany and Uruguay. During the party, the capital of Bahia must raise R $ 1.7 billion and occupy 98% of hotels throughout the city, reaching 100% in establishments near the circuit of Carnival. In the period of revelry, the national tourists get to pay an average of R $ 4,915 and foreigners R $ 3,500.

Destination that is appearing at the street carnival in Brazil, Belo Horizonte expects to expand the foliage in 2018. The expectation is to register a growth of 20% in the expected public and also in the financial movement, reaching 3.6 million revelers who should leave R $ 637 million in the city. In the mining capital, the attractions will be the 480 registered blocks of street that will make about 550 processions, number superior to the one of 2017, when 416 parades cheered the city.

In Pernambuco, frevo will be responsible for packing the party in the streets of the municipalities. The state expects to receive 1.7 million revelers and raise R $ 1.2 billion. The hotel occupancy will also bring high numbers to 2018 and will reach 95%. The capital Recife and its neighboring Olinda are the main destinations in the state and are among the largest carnivals in the country.

In Recife, there will be 43 poles of animation spread throughout the city with more than two thousand presentations. Olinda will offer a very big Carnival for the revelers. The theme of this year will be “Olinda, land of giants”, and will contain 230 artistic attractions, 80 itinerant processions, 300 frevo orchestras, 60 groups and 1,500 blocks, moors, maracatus, afoxés, caboclinhos, clubs, among others.

Source: Ministry of Tourism

Photo: Reuters