Minas Gerais Carnival breaks records in tourism and generates almost R$5 billion

Carnival 2024 in Minas Gerais was characterized as a historic carnival, registering a record number of tourists and the party's impact on the economy. The conclusion came with the
survey carried out by the Minas Gerais Tourism Observatory.

There were more than 557 thousand visitors from other states, with emphasis on São Paulo, the Federal District and Bahia. The party, driven by the creativity economy, generated R$4.7 billion. The results of the revelry in the state were released by the Government of Minas this Thursday (15) at the Palácio da Liberdade, during a press conference, which was attended by Governor Romeu Zema, state secretaries and heads of the security forces.

Throughout the state, there were more than 12 million revelers, 6.5 million in the interior and 5.5 million in Belo Horizonte. The numbers show the decentralized growth of the festivities, in addition to a 9% increase compared to last year. During the period, 100,000 new temporary job vacancies were also created in the state.

“We had a Carnival of Freedom and Tranquility that went very well. We can, without wanting to exaggerate, say that it was the biggest and best Carnival in the history of Minas Gerais, with a record number of revelers and a reduction in the number of crime, showing that management gives results”, celebrated state governor Romeu Zema. Numbers from Belo Horizonte Among the 5.5 million revelers in Belo Horizonte, 312 thousand were tourists. The average ticket spent by visitors was around R$650, and by revelers around R$250. During this period, 50 thousand new jobs were created. In the capital, there was also an increase in hotel occupancy.

According to the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH-MG), hotels in the Center-South region had an average of 82% occupancy, from Saturday (10/2) to Tuesday (13/2). In all regions of the city, the average daily rate grew 17% compared to 2023. The data shows the good performance and potential for expansion during the celebration. According to a survey carried out by the Minas Gerais Tourism Observatory, 19% of tourists who came to Belo Horizonte during Carnival stayed in hotels. The vast majority (67%) stayed with relatives or friends, while 14% opted for vacation rentals. The survey also highlighted the opportunity of the holiday for tourism in neighboring cities, an interest revealed by 30% of those interviewed. The flow of people was also intense, considering that 76% of tourists came to Belo Horizonte in groups, 32% in the company of four people or more. According to the survey, 30% of respondents identified as LGBTQIAPN+. “When 90% of the people who come to Carnival in Minas Gerais want to come back, it means a lot (…) People who now have the opportunity to get to know the state through the Carnival party want to come back”, Leônidas de Oliveira, Secretary of State for Culture and Tourism.

The city's Carnival was highly rated. According to the study, 88% of revelers considered the celebration “great”, giving it a rating between eight and ten (on a scale of zero to ten), with more than half (52.4%) giving it a ten. The absolute majority (90%) intends to spend Carnival in Belo Horizonte again in 2025. For governor Romeu Zema, the high approval rates for Carnival in the capital of Minas Gerais are due to the actions implemented by the State, which guaranteed more comfort and safety for revelers. . “The changes we made here in BH proved to be correct. The sound system on Avenidas Amazonas and Avenidas Andradas every 30 meters showed that Carnival is more organized, safer and that there is not so much concentration of people per square meter. Research has shown that these actions were important for tourists to want to return again”, he assessed.

Interior of Minas The interior received 245 thousand tourists, and, in total, 6.5 million revelers played during the four days of celebration. The number represents an 8% increase in flow compared to 2023, which registered 6 million tourists. This contributed to generating 50 thousand jobs during the period. Data from the Minas Gerais Tourism Observatory show that 97% of municipalities identified an increase in the flow of people, compared to last year. For 72% of these, growth was greater than 25%. Hotel occupancy was above 80% for half of the cities, with 60% of these reaching 100% room occupancy. For the Secretary of State for Culture and Tourism (Secult), Leônidas de Oliveira, the success was due to the combination of the organization of the party and the tourist and cultural attractions found in Minas.

“When 90% of the people who come to Carnival in Minas Gerais want to come back, it means a lot. This corroborates recent research that shows that we are the best hosts, that some of our cities are among the most welcoming on the planet and that Minas Gerais cuisine is a strong factor. People who now have the opportunity to get to know the state through the Carnival celebration want to come back”, he highlighted. Roads, airports and bus stations The survey showed that the car was the favorite means of transport for partygoers who traveled to Belo Horizonte. Approximately 45% used their own car or carpool, 35% used the bus and 20% chose the plane.

At Belo Horizonte Bus Station, the estimate is that around 260 thousand people will have traveled between Thursday (8/2) and next Monday (19/2). For the period, 5,961 bus arrivals are planned, an increase of 5% compared to 2023, with approximately 128,750 people disembarking at the terminal. On metropolitan buses, 678,625 passengers boarded and disembarked over the four days of Carnival. It was 34% on Saturday (10/2), 18% on Sunday (11/2), 27% on Monday (12/2) and 21% on Tuesday (13/2). Air traffic also increased: Pampulha Airport had 420 aircraft movements, 209 landings and 211 takeoffs.

Avenues with sound One of the great novelties of Carnaval da Liberdade 2024 was the sound system implemented on Avenidas dos Andradas and Amazonas. The speakers distributed along the routes amplified the artists' music, ensuring a better experience for the 1.5 million revelers who went to see the parades in 14 blocks between the 10th and 13/2. The initiative was praised by musicians and the public. The founder of the Baianas Ozadas block, Geo Cardoso praised the sound initiative and highlighted the State's participation in structuring the Belo Horizonte Carnival. “The experience of sound avenues during Carnival worked very well and is a step forward for the party in the capital of Minas Gerais, which has been experiencing, for a decade, the resurgence of its Carnival through street blocks. This initiative that took place this year is the result of dialogue between the public authorities and the organizers of the blocks and I would like to thank the State Government for offering this structure so that we could have our sound reaching the public with better quality”, he said.

Atrium da Liberdade expanded Belo Horizonte Carnival, for the first time, featured the Atrium da Liberdade in two spaces: in Praça da Liberdade, as in the first edition, and in Praça Duque de Caxias, in Santa Tereza. From Saturday to Tuesday (10 to 13/2), around 600 thousand people passed through the two open and free environments, designed to provide a moment of rest for revelers between one block and another. With special decoration, the squares gained several attractions, including shows, dance classes, hairstyles, makeup, as well as musical performances by artists, groups and DJs, totaling 267 artists hired, generating a thousand direct and indirect jobs.

The information point recorded around 6 thousand calls. The Atrium da Liberdade is an action of the Government of Minas Gerais, through the State Secretariat of Culture and Tourism and the Clovis Salgado Foundation. It was carried out with sponsorship from Gasmig, via the State Culture Incentive Law, and support from Cemig, Codemig, Codemge, which distributed water to 280 thousand revelers in Praça da Liberdade. Production is by Nossa Senhora Produções. Premiere of the Palácio do Samba Another unprecedented event in the Carnival of Freedom was the Palácio do Samba. For the first time in history, the Palácio da Liberdade was opened during Carnival, serving as a place to preserve and enhance samba.

Around 15 thousand people watched the eight presentations at the venue. Daily, the program featured two moments: at 4pm, a samba circle at the main entrance and, afterwards, a show by members of the old samba guards. Sala masters, flag bearers, baianas and dancers also participated in the shows, which involved more than 120 artists in total. The Palace gates opened at 12pm to welcome the public for the Favelas Gastronomic Circuit. Chefs from different neighborhoods prepared special dishes. The result was a movement of R$ 85 thousand people in the four days of Palácio do Samba. The initiative was carried out with sponsorship from Gasmig, in partnership with Casulo Culturas.