Tourist experiences place Minas Gerais as a winter destination in Brazil

Minas Gerais received more than 31 million visitors in 2023, leading the growth of tourism in Brazil. This year, according to the most recent report by the Minas Gerais Tourism Observatory, based on data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the state remains in first place in the accumulated variation from April 2023 to April 2024.

During the period, the volume of tourist activities in the state reached 12.5%, 166% above the national average (4.7%).

To maintain good performance, the State Secretariat of Culture and Tourism, through the State Law of Incentive to Culture and in partnership with Cemig, launched the Winter in Minas campaign.

The goal is to position Minas Gerais as one of the country’s main tourist destinations during the coldest season of the year. The expectation is that around 500 actions will take place in approximately 400 municipalities until September 22, the official end of winter.

“We are competitive in the national and international market at this time of year. Winter in Minas Gerais means showing Brazil and the world the power of this period in the state of Minas Gerais as a whole.

From Monte Verde to Tiradentes, passing through the Mantiqueira region and other regions, the cities are truly prepared to welcome those who want to come to Minas Gerais. An impressive range of possibilities opens up so that we can continue to grow at twice the national average”, says the Secretary of State for Culture and Tourism of Minas Gerais, Leônidas de Oliveira.

The Winter in Minas Gerais tourism campaign coincides with traditional winter festivals in several locations. The project also promotes and values ​​Minas Gerais cuisine, an intangible cultural heritage of Minas Gerais, with recipes typical of this season, such as dishes and soups made from corn and cassava, foods recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Minas Gerais, quentão, made with cachaça, sweets, cheese bread and the state’s award-winning wines, olive oils and coffees.

Tourists will have five Winter Circuits in the state, which combine natural beauty, historical heritage, tranquility, adventure and cuisine:

• Wine Territory, which passes through Três Pontas, Caldas, Andradas and São Gonçalo do Sapucaí;
• Southern Territory of Minas, in Extrema, Gonçalves and Monte Verde;
• Territory of Serra da Canastra/Sea of ​​Minas, which explores São João Batista do Glória, São Roque de Minas and Vargem Bonita;
• Territory of the Espinhaço/Diamonds, in Diamantina, São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras, Milho Verde, Serro and Lapinha da Serra;
• Estrada Real Territory with Caraça Sanctuary, Catas Altas, Santana do Montes and Tiradentes along the way.

The itineraries provide visits to wineries, cheese factories, historic cities, lush nature and cultural events.